Boucar Diouf (born 26 May 1965 in Fatick, Senegal) is a biologist, oceanographer and comedian of Senegalese origin based in Quebec. He moved to Quebec in 1991 to pursue graduate studies at Rimouski, where he briefly taught biology at the Université du Québec à Rimouski. He now works as a comedian, columnist, and radio host.
His sketches often focus on issues of immigrant integration, life in Africa, and cultural differences.
Biography
After undergraduate and graduate studies in biology at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Diouf earned a PhD in oceanography from the Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR). He then taught biology at UQAR, working on practical teaching methods in animal physiology. To make his lectures easier to understand, he created humorous capsules called “Boucardises.” It was his students who signed him up for auditions at the Just for Laughs festival.
From 2006 onward, he hosted several television shows. Between 2014 and 2023, he hosted the Radio-Canada program La nature selon Boucar before a live audience of 40 people. He also occasionally takes part in public debates, speaking out on issues such as systemic racism and the low acceptance rate by Ottawa of students from French-speaking Africa.
L'Africassé-e
Pour une raison X ou Y
Magtogoek ou le chemin qui marche
Books
Sous l'arbre à palabres, mon grand-père disait..., Éditions des Intouchables, 2007
La Commission Boucar pour un raccommodement raisonnable, Éditions des Intouchables, 2008
Le brunissement des baleines blanches, Éditions des Intouchables, 2011
Rendez à ces arbres ce qui appartient à ces arbres, Éditions La Presse, 2015
Boucar disait... pour une raison X ou Y, Éditions La Presse, 2017
Apprendre sur le tas: la biologie des bouses et autres résidus de digestion, Éditions La Presse, 2018
Pour l'amour de ma mère – Et pour remercier les mamans, Éditions La Presse, 2019
La face cachée du grand monde des microbes, Éditions La Presse, 2019
Les brunissements des baleines blanches, Éditions La Presse, 2020
Jo Groenland et la route du Nord, Éditions La Presse, 2020
Jonathan Tenderbear: Et la sagesse du Corbeau, Éditions La Presse, 2021
La face cachée du grand monde des microbes, Éditions La Presse, 2021
Ce que la vie doit à la mort: Quand la matriarche de famille tire sa révérence, Éditions La Presse, 2022
Television
2006: La Fosse aux lionnes, columnist
2007–2012: Des kiwis et des hommes, co-host and columnist
2013: Océania, host
2019: Léo (season 2, episode 11) by Fabien Cloutier – role: Boucar
2022: Autour d'une dinde, creator and host
Film
2004: Le bonheur c'est une chanson triste
Awards
2005: Revelation of the Year, Grand Rire de Québec
2006: Jacques-Couture Award – from the Ministry of Immigration and Cultural Communities
2011: Mérite du Français en éducation, from the Association des professeurs de français du Québec
2011: Prix nez d'or, Grand Rire de Québec festival
2013: Charles-Biddle Award, Government of Quebec
2014: Pierre Dansereau Award, Association des biologistes du Québec
2016: Knight of the National Order of Quebec, presented by Premier Philippe Couillard
2019: Medal of Honour of the National Assembly of Quebec
2021: Honorary doctorate, Université Laval
Columns at La Presse
National Day 2009 coverage at 7jours.canoe.ca