Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi is making waves on "America's Got Talent" (AGT) Season 19, where he earned Terry Crews' Golden Buzzer. Learnmore stands out as the only stand-up comedian among the nine Golden Buzzer recipients this season, with his unique comedic style capturing the attention of both judges and audiences. Simon Cowell praised him as "one of the funniest people" on the show, while Howie Mandel lauded his ability to connect with the audience despite English not being his first language.
In an interview with Parade, Learnmore expressed surprise at receiving the Golden Buzzer from Terry Crews, whom he idolized growing up in Chimanimani, Zimbabwe. He shared how surreal it was to meet Crews, saying, “It was such an amazing moment just getting to talk to him a little bit. It was like I knew him from way back.”
Learnmore's comedy draws heavily from his experiences growing up in Zimbabwe, and he plans to incorporate more of these stories in his upcoming performances. Suppose he wins the $1 million prize. In that case, Learnmore intends to invest in the arts in his community, starting a nonprofit to help young kids discover their talents and empowering his village to tell their stories through filmmaking.
Reflecting on his journey, Learnmore discussed how his grandfather’s laughter, even in stressful times, inspired him to pursue comedy. He also spoke about the challenges of breaking into the American comedy scene and his aspirations to become a global comedian, performing in arenas worldwide.
Learnmore currently lives in Pittsburgh, a city he grew fond of after being invited there by a foundation during the COVID-19 lockdown. He enjoys the quiet environment, which allows him to focus on writing and preparing for his performances across the country.
Check out Learmore's AGT performance below and visit Parade to read the full interview.
This was so much fun, to my American fans Voting is now Open, link below pic.twitter.com/EfkfhtmtvY
— Learnmore Jonasi (@learnmorejonasi) August 28, 2024