By Sindiso Dube
AFTER performing in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Swaziland, Namibia and other countries, award-winning comedian and actor Long John is set to move to the United States where he will stay for nine months.
The South Africa-based comedian, born Learnmore Mwanyenyeka, will be based at the Steel City Arts Foundation, in Pittsburg.
He is scheduled to depart for the US on February 16.
The Steel City Arts Foundation is a live, work and play environment in Pittsburg for comedians and other arts helping up and coming comedians come up quicker.
Wishart “Shipplings” Mashipe of Xtratime Entertainment who handles Long John’s business confirmed the trip as well as his farewell shop in Zimbabwe.
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“Long John will on February 12 perform his last show before leaving for the US at Theatre in the Park in the capital. He will be supported by Tinaye Wayne and Ian Phiri,” Mashipe said.
The last show Long John hosted in Zimbabwe was in November when he performed the Long John Unsanitised at Reps Theatre in Belgravia, Harare.
He has won several awards including the Outstanding Comedian of the Year at the National Arts Merit Awards [Nama], Pan African Comic of the Year in the Savannah Comics Choice Awards in South Africa and the People’s Choice Award at the 2019 Steve Harvey’s Stand Up Spotlight Competition.
“In May 2021 I took part in the Steel City AF Comedy competition. Through a rigorous interview and selection process, I managed to win a grant with the Steel City Arts Foundation in Pittsburgh. This is an organisation that supports comedians and artists all around the globe by offering training and performance opportunities,” he said.
“I am super excited because I have been preparing myself for this kind of opportunity to take my Comedy to the next level for a long time. I feel like everything I have been doing was getting me ready for this opportunity. So I am ready to represent Zimbabwe on the global stage. I will be taking part in the Steel city Arts Foundation Based in Pittsburgh and also performing in different comedy clubs around the USA and I will be there for 9 months.”
The Chimanimani bred comedian said he will use the opportunity to build a stronger comedy foundation in Zimbabwe.
Xtratime Entertainment is not new to bringing comedians to Zimbabwe having brought Ugandan comediennes Anne Kansiime and Cotilda Inapo as well as global comics like Barry Hilton, Donovan Goliath and Jason Goliath, Farham Esat and John Vlismas to stage shows in the country.
Zimbabwean comedian based in the United States Alfred Kainga and South-based Baba Harare all came to stage shows in Zimbabwe courtesy of Xtratime Entertainment