Bookworm turns comedian
Kgomotso Molelekeng | Tuesday July 15, 2014 12:06
Manase who uses his multilingual skills to connect with the audience in a deep and meaningful way has the kind of face that makes one want to listen and laugh. The 24-year-old has now advanced in local comedy and can now be found performing all over the country.
His growing fan base is a result of his multilingual delivery and his understanding of different cultures.
Although he is originally from Zimbabwe, Manase came to Botswana a few years back and has since made the place his second home.
He told Showbiz that he grew up a very reserved and shy child.
“I was always stuck behind a book growing up and this enabled me to be a straight A student,” he said.
Now the used-to-be shy young man is one of the most respected comedians both in his home country and here. He added that he never knew he had it in him to be a comedian until his friends encouraged him to give it a go as he used to play around with them telling jokes.
“Funny enough they always praised me and told me how good I was. I started realising that I possess a gift that I didn’t originally know I had. In all that time that I spent behind a book, I subconsciously taught myself how to become what people needed, an entertainer to make them forget their worries even if it is just for a little while,” he said.
Manase mentioned that it is important to include the audience while performing as a comedian. He said this is how a comic is able to see if they are exciting the audience or not.
“I always do this during my set, I would choose someone from the crowd and ask him a question then quickly make a joke about the answer or something related to the answer and this always impresses the audience as they now feel part of my set,” he said.
Manase explained that every comic’s nightmare is boring the audience.
“We call it ‘bombing’ as it generally leaves one wrecked and all messed up,” he said. He added that it has happened to him once or twice on stage, but what is important is to dust oneself off and head straight back to the drawing board to fix the jokes.
“Instead of crying myself to sleep and thinking of giving up, I always do this after I go through a problem like this. Being a comedian requires someone who is patient and thick-skinned because it is a rough career that can easily break someone who is soft,” he said.