Comedian and storyteller Mr. Owen Ellis blends humor and truth to highlight how rigid masculinity norms in Jamaica push men to bottle up emotions and suffer in silence. He openly shares his own mental health journey, challenging the stigma around diagnosis, therapy, and vulnerability.

Mr. Owen Ellis critiques the constant pressure on men to "man up" and perform toughness—whether it’s not crying, not laughing too much, or even how to eat a banana in public. These cultural rules, he says, are absurd and harmful.

His core message? It’s time to move men from “head to heart”—from ego and entitlement to empathy, honesty, accountability, and healing. By reframing what it means to be a man, we can help boys and men live fuller, healthier lives.

Owen Blakka Ellis is a Jamaican-Canadian writer, actor, and educator best known for over 30 years as a comedian. He has written for stage, screen, and television, and has taught English, Literature, and Theatre Arts at both secondary and tertiary levels. A columnist for The Star and author of Gateman (2005), Ellis holds a Master’s in Environmental Studies from York University and is deeply engaged in issues at the intersection of gender, culture, and the environment.