In this episode, LAC members Irenae Aigbedion and Tembi Charles welcome Dr. Sinfree Makoni (Penn State) and Dr. Bassey Antia (University of the Western Cape) to have a conversation about their project, "Humor as a Semiotic Resource: Coping with COVID-19 Stress in Africa." The conversation branches out from a close examination of their work to a reflection on the ways that humor can be a tool to "speak back" to power, to critique histories of colonialism, and to shape a new identity for Africa itself. Humor becomes a critical tool we all need to navigate the unique social pressures we are currently facing. Dr. Sinfree Makoni is an Associate Professor in African Studies and Applied Linguistics. His work has altered the long-established ontologies of language. It draws on integrationist approaches and decolonial contextualities, arguing that colonial imposition of language was incompatible with the cultures and communication practices of the peoples that the colonial powers dominated. He is a prolific scholar,  having produced 13 books (single authored, co-authored, and edited), 77 refereed journal articles, and 42 book chapters. Most recently, his contribution to the Integrationist and Decolonial school of thought has been honored with the publication of two volumes out of a four-volume study dedicated to his work entitled, African Applied Linguistics and Language in Africa. He holds honorary and visiting professorships at the University of South Africa, the University of Northwest South Africa, and the University of Cape Town. He has been awarded the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship twice--in the 2019 and 2020 cycle. Prof. Makoni has been a member of the university Faculty Senate, where he served as vice-chair of the Senate Committee on Student Life and as member of the John White Graduate Fellowship Committee. He has served as a mentor and dissertation advisor to multiple students at Penn State and internationally. He has played an integral service role in both African Studies and in Applied Linguistics.    Dr. Bassey Antia is Professor of Linguistics at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa. He holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Bielefeld in Germany. He has previously taught or held visiting lecturing or research positions at universities in Maiduguri, Bielefeld, Montreal, Barcelona, Guildford, Shoshanguve, and Heidelberg. Language policy in higher education, language politics, language and health, multilingualism, and terminology are some areas of his research emphasis. In addition to journal articles and book chapters in these areas, he has authored, edited and coedited volumes published by John Benjamins Publishing Company, headquartered in Amsterdam.