Meet Nebiyu Alemayehu: A First-Generation Ethiopian Navigating the Worlds of Entertainment and Business
By Faisale Shefawe
Published on 08/25/25
In the Washington, DC, suburb of South Arlington sits Wakefield High School, a place where students are often seen as more athletic, confident, and socially outgoing than at other schools in the area. Among its graduates is Nebiyu Alemayehu (Nebs), a first-generation Ethiopian who is now pursuing careers in both stand-up comedy and business.
Born in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Nebs moved to Arlington at the age of five. Growing up, his family didn’t have cable, so his only option was to watch adult TV shows on local channels. “As a kid, I was forced to watch shows like Seinfeld and House of Payne,” Nebs recalled. “I think those shows helped me become funny and gravitate toward comedy.”
From Class Clown to Athlete
In middle school, Nebs discovered a passion for sports, especially soccer and basketball. Later, his athletic abilities earned him a football scholarship to a college in Ohio. But sports weren’t his only outlet—Nebs was also known as the class clown. He frequently cracked jokes, made fun of classmates, and often found himself kicked out of class.
“I was the class clown,” Nebs said. “Even though teachers kicked me out a thousand times, they loved me because they knew I was smart and a good kid.”
During that same period, Nebs got his first taste of business. He began reselling popular sneakers, especially Jordans, often begging his mom to drive him long distances to buy limited-edition releases. His mom always supported his hustle.
Shifting Focus in High School
When he started high school in 2014, Nebs promised himself to focus on sports and tone down the class clown persona. “When I became a high school student, I still made jokes, but I calmed down,” he explained. “My goal was to excel in sports and get a scholarship.”
At Wakefield, Nebs had a packed schedule. He made varsity teams in football, wrestling, and track, while also working jobs at places like Panera Bread and Five Guys to support himself. He quickly realized retail jobs weren’t for him. “I hated those jobs so much that I acted dumb so they wouldn’t give me more things to do,” he joked.
First Attempt at Stand-Up
In his senior year, Nebs chose stand-up comedy for his mandatory graduation project. At a school talent show, he performed in front of 400 students—but the crowd stayed silent. His unprepared, random jokes flopped.
“I thought I could just wing it, but the jokes were so bad I couldn’t wait for it to be over,” Nebs admitted. That night, he decided to drop the project and step away from comedy for four years.
College Years and YouTube
Despite his hard work, Nebs declined a full-ride football scholarship to Cincinnati Christian University after an injury and advice from his parents—especially his mother, who feared further injuries. Instead, he attended West Virginia University in 2018, majoring in sport psychology.
There, he launched a YouTube channel filled with comedy skits and party vlogs, one of which hit over 70,000 views. The channel was growing steadily—until COVID-19 shut down campus life. “If it wasn’t for the pandemic, I would’ve had a crazy amount of subscribers,” Nebs said.
Business Ventures and Career Moves
After graduating in 2022, Nebs was determined to build businesses while giving stand-up comedy another try. He noticed the profitability of Airbnb hosting and soon landed a job as a digital marketing consultant, helping businesses grow their online presence.
In 2023, an old landlord allowed him to rent out his college apartment on Airbnb, jump-starting his business journey. He later expanded into multiple properties.
That same year, Nebs returned to Arlington to continue remote work—and revive his comedy career.
Return to the Stage
In July 2023, Nebs performed stand-up at Fairouz Lounge in Falls Church, Virginia. The audience was just ten people, and once again, he bombed. But unlike his high school attempt, this failure motivated him.
“To become a good comedian, you have to fail again and again,” Nebs reflected. “From that night on, I promised myself never to go on stage without preparing.”
He began booking more shows around Washington, DC, including at DC Comedy Club House and Detour Club. With preparation and persistence, audiences started laughing—just like his classmates once did. “Once you make people laugh, it’s addictive. You just want to keep doing it,” he said.
In February 2024, Nebs landed his first paid gig: a $300 set for Saudi guests in Arlington. “I hung the photo of the check on my wall to remember that night,” he said proudly.
Looking Ahead
Today, Nebs balances his growing Airbnb business—currently three units, with plans to add four more—with his steadily rising comedy career. Confident in his path, he sees both business and entertainment as arenas where he can thrive.
“I know I’ll make it to the top,” Nebs said. “As long as I don’t give up.”