dyton mupawaenda
COMEDIAN Learnmore Jonasi has come a long way, within a short space of time, and transformed himself from an artist who used to be booed by his audience into one now dining with some of the world’s best comedians in the United States.
Jonasi, who turned 31 last month, has risen from a humble background, where he was raised by his grandparents in Chimanimani, to become one of the leading stand-up comedians in the world today.
He adopted his mother’s surname, when he was born in Dangamvura, Mutare, and was called Learnmore Manyenyeka because, as he claimed back then, he didn’t even know his father.
His grandparents gave him the love and care he needed and, when he made a decision to become a man who could fend for himself, he felt Harare would provide those opportunities for him.
That he did not even have a relative in Harare, who could provide him with a place to stay as he chased his dreams, did not provide a barrier for him to make the move.
But, the capital city can be quite a lonely and hostile place, especially for someone who comes to chase his or her dreams, without any place to call home or anyone to help him.
These are the hurdles Learnmore faced but, even when he was booed by his audience on the first night he was given a chance to show his true colours, he refused to give up.
Something kept telling him that he was good at what he was doing and being booed was part of the pain he had to endure to pass the test and be accepted by the audience.
Those were the days when he used to be called Long John The Comedian. Hard work pays and Long John became Learnmore Jonasi and the rest, as they say, is history.
This week, he found himself blazing a trail and chasing a place in the history books as he battled to become the first comedian, without a puppet, to win America Got Talent but the Zimbabwean artist gave it a good shot in Las Vegas.
He finished fifth in the quest for the US$1 million first prize jackpot with America’s Richard Goodall taking home the winner’s cheque.
On Wednesday, Jonasi flew into Harare ahead of his performance at the Shoko Festival yesterday.
He is now based in the United States and has already reached a significant milestone in his career which has seen him receiving the Steve Harvey’s Spotlight Award and the Boston Comedy Award.
He might divide opinion, with some critics saying that some of his jokes portray the country in a very bad light.
That’s fair comment from them but his fans say that he is just a comedian and his line of duty is to make people laugh.
We won’t take sides on this one but what really interests us is that he has shown millions of young boys and girls throughout this country that anyone, despite coming from a humble background, can live his or her dream.
Online Reporter