DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – A Filipina stand-up comedian, who has been a staple of major comedy events in this city for years, has decried what she described as a couple of racist inquiries for gigs that she received separately in the past three weeks.
“It’s sad that we live in a country that promotes equality and tolerance, yet there still are people who, unfortunately, have this backward mentality, who do not understand that racism is not cool, that discrimination has never resulted to anything good,” Fatimah Dumagay, who goes by the stage name, Imah, said in her Instagram post.
The matter stemmed from a WhatsApp message Dumagay received recently inquiring about a stand-up comedian who could perform 15 minutes at an upcoming corporate event for AED2,000.
“Strictly, no Philippines as per client instructions,” read the message that Dumagay shared on her IG post.
She said she received another invite weeks later with the same racist instruction.
“I get it, people have the right to choose whoever they want to work with. Okay, preferences are a thing. We all have them. But this is not preference. This is prejudice. When your so-called preference is about excluding an entire group of people based on their nationality, you’re not being picky, you’re being racist.
“It’s disgusting, okay? And by the way, if you’re being discriminatory, at least have the budget to back it up because AED2,000 isn’t exactly premium for that level of arrogance.
“Cheap and racism don’t mix well, okay?”
Dumagay said she at first thought she’d let it go and move on.
“But then I got another call with the same story. It was going okay until I asked him about the demographic of the audience. If they have my kabayan Filipinos, and he was like ‘Oh you’re Filipino. Let me first check with the client if she’s okay with this.’ He comes back to me and says, ‘I’m sorry but the client prefers a non-Filipino comedian.’
“I was like, you know what? Maybe this is just a one-time thing. But then, twice in three weeks, it’s starting to feel like a trend and I feel like it’s time to say something about this,” Dumagay said.
Dumagay also urged bookers and agents not to allow this practice.
“Please, let’s not encourage this kind of exclusion. I know at the end of the day, business is business. Money talks. But please, can you take it upon yourself to raise the standard a little bit? You have the power to say ‘no’ to this kind of practice, to stand up for what is right and to make sure everyone’s got a fair shot,” she said.
Dumagay said agents making exclusions are limiting themselves, missing out on some of the best talents.
Comments on Dumagay’s IG post, which so far has more than 1,300 likes, supported her.
Dumagay, who hails from Cotabato City, started her career at small Dubai bars running open mics in 2018. She went full-time in 2022.
A regular at the annual Dubai Comedy Festival since 2020, Dumagay has also performed at Dubai Opera, The Theatre at Mall of the Emirates, Festival Arena, and Zabeel Theatre.
Likewise, she has currently been doing international gigs, training budding comedians and producing shows. She is co-founder of one of the popular comedy clubs in UAE, Comedy Kix.
She will for the first time be at the upcoming Abu Dhabi Comedy Week.
Majority of Dumagay’s audience are non-Filipinos. “Fatimah” is a popular Muslim name, following after several of Prophet Muhammad’s relatives, including his daughter. – Rappler.com