Comedy For Peace

The Pan African Cultural Foundation is proud to present Comedy for Peace. A unique international interfaith comedy project featuring Jewish, Muslim, and Christian professional comedians. Comedy for Peace brings together a rotating lineup of performers who share their personal experiences and perspectives in the most original and hilarious way.

Over the past six years, Comedy for Peace has presented more than 250 shows in over 100 cities across the United States and Canada and has been featured at the New York Comedy Festival three times, most recently in November 2025.

This is not a political event. It is a community-building experience that demonstrates how laughter can bridge divides, foster empathy, and remind us how much more we share in common than what separates us.

Featured Performers
• Usama Siddiquee – The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Don’t Tell Comedy, and named by Deadline Magazine as one of the Most Promising Comedians of 2026.
• Leah Bonnema – The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, nationally headlining comedian, writer, actor, and popular podcast host.
• Tehran Von Ghasri – LA Laugh Factory favorite; writer, actor, television, radio, and podcast personality touring internationally.
• Erik Angel – New York Comedy Festival, NBC, Last Comic Standing.

Usama Siddiquee
A New York–based stand-up comedian, actor, and writer known for his sharp observational humor, fearless honesty, and distinctive point of view as a first-generation Bangladeshi-American. He gained national recognition as a finalist on America’s Got Talent. In addition to stand-up, Usama has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, as well as on HBO, Netflix, and TBS, and in the acclaimed HBO miniseries The Night Of. As a writer, he contributed to Netflix’s Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj, helping shape one of the most influential comedy news shows of its generation.

Tehran Von Ghasri
One of the fastest-rising stars in comedy, Tehran is a powerhouse performer with a one-of-a-kind background: Black, Persian, Muslim, and Jewish — streetwise and Ivy-educated. His bold, brilliant blend of cultures gives him a voice that’s as thought-provoking as it is hilarious. Tehran has been featured on Comedy Central, HBO, and FOX, and when he’s not touring across the U.S. or internationally, you can catch him bringing down the house regularly at The Laugh Factory in Los Angeles.

Erik Angel
An Israeli-Jewish-American comedian and the founder of Comedy for Peace. Angel delivers comedy with heart, edge, and a global perspective. Born and raised in Israel and now based in New York, Erik has performed in over 100 cities across the U.S. and in more than a dozen countries worldwide. He’s opened for headliners like Maz Jobrani and Zarna Garg, appeared on NBC, and has been featured in numerous comedy festivals. His stand-up — which has racked up over 3 million views on TikTok — is sharp, high-energy, and deeply personal, tackling the hilarity and chaos of life as a recent immigrant, a Jewish newlywed in his forties, and someone who proudly speaks English-Falafel 24/7.

Leah Bonnema
LA–based stand-up comedian, writer, and actress known for her smart, fearless, and refreshingly honest comedy. A regular performer at top clubs across the country, Leah has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Comedy Central, The Tonight Show, and SiriusXM. Her debut comedy album, The Half of It, was named one of the Best Comedy Albums of the Year by The Interrobang. With sharp writing and a confident stage presence, Leah delivers clever, high-energy comedy that connects with audiences through wit, insight, and originality.

Learn More:
Comedy for Peace Trailer
Comedy for Peace Website
Feature Article in The Forward
Interview on CBS News