‘Our costume is for entertainment, not an expression of sexuality’ – Deaconess Abokomah and friends
TikTok stars ‘Deaconess Abokoma’, ‘Eno Fodjour’, and friends are popular Ghanaian skit makers known for their humorous portrayals of the stereotypical lives of old Ghanaian women and gossip.
Their content, which often features them embodying exaggerated feminine characters, has sparked both laughter and controversy, with some tagging them as homosexuals due to their performances.
In a recent interview on ‘Spectacle,’ GTV’s entertainment show, which airs every Friday at 8 p.m., they opened up about the inventiveness behind their skits, and how they navigate public perceptions.
During the interview, they shared their respective backgrounds, revealing the sources of their originality. One of the main characters, Deaconess Abokomah,
explained he was raised by his grandmother and had little to no contact with other adults, interacting mainly with his grandmother and her friends.
This upbringing has allowed him to perfectly capture the essence of the ‘Fante Old Lady’ in his performances. When asked about the stigma associated with their demeanour, feminine characters, and skits, Eno Fodjour acknowledged receiving many such allegations but stated that he remains focused on his goals and chooses to ignore the criticism.
Their decision to create content based on these experiences came after they discovered their niche, with the costumes serving as an added touch to enhance their skits. They emphasized that besides the times they cross-dress to advertise for the brands they work with, every other character they take on, is purely for entertainment.
Source: Hagar Owusu, Contributor
