Chaker Bou Abdalla

Chaker Bou Abdalla, also spelled Shaker Bou Abdallah, is a Lebanese stand-up comedian born in Beirut in 1972. Originally trained and employed as a graphic designer in advertising for more than a decade, he moved into comedy full time, launching his stand-up career in 2018. His material centers on the absurdity and futility of everyday existence, delivered with a deadpan, self-described dystopian sensibility. He released his first stand-up special, Badna Noshtof, in 2019, then starred in Stand-up Baladi (2020), produced by the Beirut platform awk.word and considered the first Arabic-language stand-up comedy series of its kind, appearing alongside other Lebanese comedians performing short sets built around themes of daily Lebanese life. Bou Abdalla went on to record a further filmed special, Codeine, and has toured internationally with an hour called Stofil, performing in Lebanon, France and elsewhere in Europe. He has also written and acted in stage plays and television series. He has performed stand-up on Beirut's club circuit, including shows produced by awk.word, and has built an international following through comedy clips posted online in Arabic.