Boucar Diouf

Boucar Diouf — Biography

Boucar Diouf (born May 26, 1965 in Fatick, Senegal) is a biologist, oceanographer, humorist, author, and Quebec-based host of Senegalese origin. He is best known for his comedy shows, television and radio programs, as well as for a dozen popular science books and columns.12

Family and Youth

Boucar Diouf comes from a family in the Sine region, the stronghold of the Serer ethnic group in Senegal, and is one of nine children born to his parents.23 Arriving in Quebec in 1991 to pursue higher education, he studied biology at Cheikh-Anta-Diop University in Dakar, where he obtained a master’s degree in plant biology and an advanced studies certificate.24

Academic and Teaching Career

Upon arriving in Quebec, he joined Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR), where he completed a doctorate in oceanography (defended on the adaptation of eels to cold), awarded in 1998 (some sources indicate 1999).124

He then taught at UQAR for eight years, covering a wide range of subjects including human physiology, genetics, adaptive biology, structural biochemistry, marine biology, and energy metabolism.23 It was in this classroom that he developed his taste for laughter: to facilitate understanding of his courses, he created humorous segments called “Boucardises,” and his students encouraged him to audition for the Juste pour rire festival, which he won.15

Career as a Humorist and Host

After graduating, Boucar Diouf “traded classrooms for recording studios and performance halls.” He subsequently hosted several television programs, including Des kiwis et des hommes (Radio-Canada, with Francis Reddy, for six years), Africologie and Drôles de cultures (TV5), Océania (Explora) as well as Bazzo (Télé-Québec).23 On the radio, he hosts La nature selon Boucar on Radio-Canada Première since 2014 (until 2023).13

He is also a guest columnist for the newspaper La Presse (2013, “debates” section) and published in La Presse+. He regularly intervenes in public debates, particularly on systemic racism and the low acceptance rate by Ottawa of students from Francophone Africa.13

Honors and Awards

Among his most important awards:

  • 2013: Charles-Biddle Prize, for contribution to the cultural diversity of Quebec;
  • 2014: Pierre Dansereau Prize, awarded by the Association of Biologists of Quebec for contribution to the advancement of biology;
  • 2016: Knight of the National Order of Quebec, conferred by Prime Minister Philippe Couillard;
  • 2016: Excellence Prize for UQAR graduates;
  • 2019: Medal of Honor from the National Assembly of Quebec;
  • 2021: Recipient of an honorary doctorate from Laval University.1256

Works

Boucar Diouf has published a dozen books, mainly with Éditions La Presse, as well as shows and columns.124

  • 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, Édition 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;
  • Le Bourlingueur de Matungoua « 6 à 10 ans », Éditions La Presse, 2022;
  • Ce que la vie doit à la mort, Éditions La Presse, 2022.124

Sources

  1. Wikipédia — “Boucar Diouf”: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boucar_Diouf ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Official website of Boucar Diouf — “Biography”: https://www.boucar-diouf.com/bio.html ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Radio-Canada — “Boucar Diouf, a bridge between Africa and Quebec”: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1864688/boucar-diouf-humoriste-senegal-biologie-immigration-portrait-animateur-archives ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  4. La Presse — “Boucar Diouf”: https://www.lapresse.ca/auteurs/boucar-diouf ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  5. National Order of Quebec — “Boucar Diouf, 2016 nominations”: https://www.ordre-national.gouv.qc.ca/publications/nominations/nominations-2016.pdf ↩︎ ↩︎

  6. Laval University — “Boucar Diouf, awards and honors”: https://www.ulaval.ca/notre-universite/prix-et-distinctions/repertoire/boucar-diouf ↩︎