Award winning comedian, Long John (real name Learnmore Mwanyenyeka) has just signed a deal with Comedy Central to appear on the line up of Season 2 of the Savanna Virtual Comedy Bar.
He revealed the big news as we had a chat on the series of podcasts looking at Zimbabwean talent that at times gets overlooked by its own media houses. The At Home With Joe Mars podcasts have so far featured upcoming star Ananya Kouds, Vuyo Brown, Vimbai Zimuto and will aim at changing the media landscape which at times is restrictive and narrow minded to the arts from within Zimbabwe.
Long John, now based in South Africa made his mark doing stand up comedy in bars in Bulawayo and Harare and has worked with big names in comedy such as Barry Hilton and Steve Harvey. He revealed how COVID 19 got in the way of travelling to USA for a series of gig where he was placed to open up for Steve Harvey.
John's life is that of a rags to riches (well he clearly is on his way to them) story that started in Chimanimani, to Bulawayo, then Harare before perching in South Africa before his Europe and the Americas' dream comes to life. He is not ashamed of where he comes from and what has transpired in his life saying that when he talks about it, its therapeutic.
He describes the COVID pandemic in 2021 as a "Season 2", finding anything and everyone funny from his grandfather, Robert Mugabe, Holy Ten and even his lazy eye. He is no doubt headed in the right direction and with the new Comedy Central deal he will soon become a force to reckon with around the whole world.