Ziwerekoru "Ziwe" Fumudoh[1] is an American comedian and writer known for her satirical commentary on politics, race relations, and young adulthood.
[14][13] In 2014 she graduated with a double major in radio, television, & film and African American studies; and a minor in creative writing, concentrating in poetry.
[25] During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Fumudoh moved the show from YouTube to Instagram Live with weekly celebrity guests including Caroline Calloway, Alison Roman, Alyssa Milano, and Rose McGowan.
[35] Its six episodes featured sketches, musical numbers, and interviews with celebrity guests including Fran Lebowitz, Bowen Yang, Phoebe Bridgers, Julio Torres, and Stacey Abrams.
[36] Celebrity guests included Ilana Glazer, Mia Khalifa, Emily Ratajkowski, Katya Zamolodchikova, Julia Fox, Bob the Drag Queen, Joel Kim Booster, Amber Riley, Michael Che, and Hannibal Burress.
[36][38] Clips of the show were popular on TikTok, achieving Fumudoh's dream of becoming "The Ellen Degeneres of race relations.
[41] That same year, she played Sophie Iwobi, a comedic commentator on a late-night show resembling Ziwe, in one episode of the third season of Succession.
[47][48][49][50] Fumudoh has cited Jonathan Swift and Stephen Colbert as influences, having been introduced to them by a teacher during her freshman year of high school.
"[52] She has also taken inspiration from Oprah, the works of Zach Galifianakis, and Nathan Fielder,[52] as well as from shows like Arrested Development, The Office, and 30 Rock.