Nema, whose name means "Sun" in Tibetan, was born in Kyoto, Japan, and later resided in Katmandu, Nepal with his mother, brother, and Tibetan stepfather. At the tender age of four, Nema's family relocated to America, with his mother, originally from California, choosing to settle in Oakland to be closer to her sister. Despite being a shy child, Nema's cousins encouraged him to participate in a youth theater group, which he enthusiastically joined, discovering his passion for the performing arts.
In lieu of tuition, Nema contributed to the theater group by mopping floors and helping to build sets. He went on to star in the iconic production of Grease, and subsequently landed leading roles in Oh, What a Lovely War and A Christmas Carol. Unfortunately, due to a lack of funding and appreciation for the arts, the youth theater group was forced to close its doors.
Following this setback, Nema found himself with limited supervision and a surplus of free time, which led him to spend his afternoons hanging out with a group of neighborhood thugs. However, his life took a dramatic turn when he stumbled upon an open mic comedy show at Dorsey's Locker, a small bar in Oakland. Nema seized the opportunity to take the stage, and his performance earned him a spot on BET's Comic View, marking the beginning of his illustrious comedy career.
Nema has since appeared on various comedy platforms, including Cedric the Entertainer's "Starting Lineup," "Comic Grove" on Comedy Central, "What Should You Do" on Lifetime, "Comic Remix" on Comedy Central, and Sean "Puffy" Combs's "Bad Boys of Comedy" for HBO. Most recently, Nema has returned to his theater roots, starring in the gospel play "I Sing 4 Luv," alongside notable performers such as Howard Hewett, James Avery, Dawn Lewis, and Freda Payne.
Nema has also had the privilege of headlining colleges and clubs across the country and abroad, touring with the Lucky Strike's Tour through Holland and selected cities in Europe, as well as the UK with the Real Deal Comedy Tour. In addition, he has had the opportunity to entertain American military troops in Korea, Japan, and Iraq with the USO. Nema's impressive resume also includes performances on the LOL Comedy Festival on Showtime and Martin Lawrence Presents First Amendment.
