For the 2024 edition of Shoko Comedy Night, the festival switched from the roast format, which had been the highlight of the last few years, to stand-up comedy. And the year couldn't have been a perfect time for change, as Zimbabwean comedy has gone global in more ways than one. Harare Gardens was the arena, and an eager audience filled out the seats.
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| Learnmore Jonasi on stage at Harare Gardens |
Aptly named 'The Homecoming,' the night saw the return of America's Got Talent finalist, Learnmore Jonasi. A subject of contentious discussions since his audition, the comedian was without a doubt the defining contestant of AGT's most recent season for every Zimbabwean.
Tinashe Fortune on stage at Harare Gardens
Tinashe Fortune played host and it was an impeccable performance from the comedian right from the word go. A master of the art of improvisation, who was never wanting for words. Tanya Alex was first among the opening acts to hit the stage and while nerves tried to get the better of her, she ploughed through, with a deep breath and "Haaa pakaipa" for the difficult moments.
Izvezvi paden pachairman weSADC wasiya pasina magesti - Tinashe Fortune
The multitalented Probeatz came on to deliver a showcase of beatboxing that inspired awe and wonder. They're few among Harare's circuit of DJs who could provide as worthy a performance with a CDJ in their hands. In no time, it was now the moment for the headline act to grace the stage.
Learnmore Jonasi on stage at Harare Gardens
While certainly having seen the varying opinions on him, Learnmore Jonasi did not temper down his humour. His opening immediately addressed why he didn't win AGT, and his reasoning was simple, he wanted to avoid being bewitched by his village people. From there he reflected on how nothing had changed at 'home' besides the road from the airport, and his performance soon became a pendulum that swung from life in Zimbabwe to life in the United States.
The comedian made a few stuttering steps at the beginning, but once he found his groove Harare Gardens was soon a chorus of laughter. The pace of life and experiences in the 1st World and the 3rd World were juxtaposed to hilarious effect. As always, his delivery was punctuated by his own laughter.
Once sexual innuendo made its first appearance, it became a running theme of the night. If you were mildly a prude, it would've made for an uncomfortable hour of comedy, but luckily for Learnmore the crowd didn't seem to have that affliction (It's Harare after all). What unkind words the crowd had for the comedian, he replied in kind with hilarious effect. A heckle was the inspiration for his next joke.
The US ambassador to Zimbabwe got a fair bit of the roasting, as well as Napoleon Nyanhi. Learnmore's reflection on the time he applied for his visa felt like some of his best work on the night.
When I applied for my visa to US, they asked me 'Will you be coming back?' I said yes and that's the best joke I've ever told - Learnmore Jonasi
For those who had found his AGT performance as a ridicule of the Zimbabwean experience, there was certainly a redemption arc at the expense of America. A country that has made so many enemies, it has to have multiple time zones because it can't afford to let everyone sleep at the same time, as someone has to keep watch (Learnmore's words not my own, I'm still trying to get a visa).
It was a story of "what I've experienced, interluded by what I've missed." Some moments felt like they fell flat, yet in the end, Learnmore proved to be still in touch with his roots. Well as much as comedy is concerned. A much different side to what has felt somewhat like pandering on a global platform.
All images used in this article are from The Big Conversation.
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