“I can say whatever I want”

Say what you think. Research what you want. Make art the way you like: everyone in Germany has these freedoms, as they form the basis of democracy - and are protected by the country’s Basic Law. Meet young people from Germany who reveal the different ways they experience this freedom. 

Sometimes life doesn’t work out quite the way one’s own mother would have wanted. This is also how it was for Assane Badiane: “I studied international business simply because it sounded good. You tell your mother and she is pleased because she thinks her son has made it.” In 2022, he went to an open mic comedy show with his girlfriend. Open mic nights give amateurs and professional comedians the chance to test out their new routines or to get some on-stage experience. Assane got to know the MC on the sidelines of the event and spontaneously landed a free slot that same evening. “He asked me whether I already had a comedy routine - I had nothing but simply lied,” laughs Assane. His performance was a success nonetheless. “I immediately felt this was just the right thing for me,” he explains. After a second stand-up gig, Assane dropped out of university and devoted himself fully to his new passion: comedy. When he told his mother that he now planned to work as a comedian, her reaction was immediate: “Please don’t, that’s not a proper job!” 

A life on trains and stages 

But Assane is not willing to give up his dream. “The first year was tough,” he recalls. Every weekend he would spend more than three hours travelling by train from his village to Hamburg. In fact, he spent most of the first year of his new career on trains. He travelled from city to city, performing wherever he was offered a microphone. It was anything but lucrative. “Sometimes I’d get paid 50 euros for a gig, but that would go straight on train tickets,” he explains. He also had a part-time job as a waiter.  

Assane has only been working as a full-time comedian since 2024. These days he appears in many comedy events. And in 2023 he won multiple awards. In a podcast he has been broadcasting since August 2023, Assane chats to fellow comedian Freddy Ekué about the things that make life so interesting: everyday occurrences, culture and social issues. Assane will be setting off on his first tour of Germany in 2025. During his shows he tells anecdotes from his own life. “On stage I talk about things in just the same way I chat with my girlfriend,” he says.  

How comedy and satire are protected by freedom of expression and artistic freedom laws 

Most of all Assane appreciates the freedoms that he has as a comedian in Germany. “I have the freedom to go on stage and say whatever I want. That’s awesome,” he says. There is one rule that also applies to comedians, however: “The more controversial the topic, the better the joke must be you want to tell on stage.” That’s what Felix Lobrecht, one of Germany’s most successful comedians, once said.  

Comedy and satire are protected in Germany by the basic rights of freedom of expression and artistic freedom that are enshrined in the country’s Basic Law . TheBasic Law permits artists to produce provocative or critical content without risk of state censorship. This includes even harsh criticism of politicians, social conditions or institutions. “This unrestricted personal freedom means I am free to develop and be exactly the person I want. There are no taboos and there is nothing you cannot say,” says Assane.  

This is also the opinion of the Federal Constitutional Court . It has stressed on multiple occasions that artistic freedom must be especially protected because it plays an important societal role, for example as a vehicle for criticism and reflection. The court has confirmed in several rulings that satire is a key element of political and social debate and must be afforded special protection. 

Comedy and democracy 

However, there are certain boundaries that are likewise defined by laws. These include for example abuse and slander. These laws apply when satire, rather than being used as an art form, is intended to cause people harm. 

Besides entertaining people, comedy also has a concrete societal purpose. “I believe that humour plays a very important role in democracy,” says Assane. Comedy is the perfect opportunity for him to address socially relevant topics without engaging in a large-scale debate. In his opinion, comedians have a big responsibility when it comes to defending freedom of expression. “For me as a comedian, freedom is the most important commodity. To enjoy freedom of expression, it is important not to allow oneself to be limited on stage.”