Learnmore Jonasi’s performance will be part of Rose City Comedy Club’s grand opening at its new expanded location. (Rose City Comedy/Contributed Photo)

Growing up in a small, remote village called Chimanimani just outside of Zimbabwe, Learnmore Jonasi was far from becoming a household name.

“Thirteen years ago in the capital city of Zimbabwe, Harare, when I started doing comedy, there were only four comedians in the whole country,” Jonasi said. “Comedy was not a thing.”

He fell in love with comedy by watching Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean because of his physical comedic style.

“At that time, I didn’t speak or understand English but because Mr. Bean was so physical, I could understand him,” Jonasi said. “Then I remember watching Jim Carrey and he’s very physical with his movements as well and I was like, ‘I want to do that.’”

As he got older, Jonasi fell more in love with the art of standup comedy through icons like Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy.

Jonasi’s style transformed into observational comedy, as well as self-deprecating humor.

“When I started out, I was doing simple jokes, you know, jokes that… anybody can do,” he said. “But because I’ve been doing this for a while and I’ve been experiencing life, traveling, meeting new people, learning so much, my comedy has evolved in so many ways.”

When it comes to comedy, Jonasi doesn’t just write down funny things to talk about on stage; he remembers experiences.

“I get inspired by things around me,” Jonasi said. “I can be taking a walk, I can just be taking a shower and something happens… and I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s funny, and I just write it down’ and the next thing you hear is me on stage talking about that experience. I feel like that could connect to the audience way more.”

At 31 years old, Jonasi has performed with and alongside the biggest names in Africa and performed across 20 countries at various theatres, festivals, comedy clubs, and on TV shows. He was the winner of the 2023 Boston Comedy Festival and the 2023 audience choice Jersey City Comedy Festival.

In 2019, he won the National Arts Merit Awards as the Outstanding Comedian of the Year, the Savanna Comic Choice Awards as the Pan African Comic of the Year, and he was the People’s Choice Award winner in Steve Harvey’s Stand Up Spotlight competition.

But his shining moment came in May during the 19th season of America’s Got Talent, when he received the coveted Golden Buzzer.

“I did not see that coming, at all,” Jonasi said. “I was happy with just the standing ovation. I was like… I’ve done my part. I was happy.”

Jonasi joked about life in his village, where even the latest technology, like a traffic light, felt cutting-edge. He humorously pointed out how “old school” the village is, with no one using social media.

“To view someone’s photos, you have to visit their house first,” Jonasi said in the audition. “First walk around the house, looking at all the photos in the house: ‘I like this one… I like this one. I would like to share this one!’”

The crowd and the judges were all roaring with laughter at Jonasi’s comedic performance, and by the end of his set everyone was on their feet.

“When you saw me on that stage, that was me pouring my heart out… just showing them my passion,” Jonasi said. “This is comedy, and just the idea of giving people an opportunity to laugh, to me, is everything.”

Moved by Jonasi’s perspective on his journey from Zimbabwe, AGT host Terry Crews walked from the wings to the judges’ table, sharing that Jonasi had told him backstage about taking 14-hour bus trips just to perform for five minutes and then another 14-hour bus ride home.

“Brother,” Crews said to Jonasi, “you will never have to go back home again — you are here with us forever.”

Usually a move done by one of the four judges, Crews pushed the Golden Buzzer, sending Jonasi into an emotional and life-changing moment.

“I was definitely in tears because I could see all the sacrifices I had made and the people that told me that I would never be where I am today,” Jonasi said. “I could see what I had done my whole life, coming to life.”

After being showered with the golden confetti, Jonasi earned a fast-track spot to the quarterfinals where he went on to be named a semi-finalist, ultimately finishing in fifth place overall.

“I pinch myself every single day because I was on that stage,” Jonasi said. “It’s the biggest stage in the whole world, and I managed to get to the finals… and that’s more memorable than anything right now.”

Jonasi will be bringing his humor with him to Tyler on Friday and Saturday night at the Rose City Comedy Club, 7428 Old Jacksonville Hwy. Suite 10 in Tyler. Show times are 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. both nights, and tickets cost $30. The show is intended for comedy lovers 18 and older. There will be a full bar with appetizers.

“I am so looking forward to telling my story,” he said. “You will get to know more of me, I will tell you all about my grandparents, how I grew up, my experience in America — all of that. I am very much looking forward to performing in Tyler.”

Rose City Comedy Club has called 117 W. Front Street home since it opened; however, because of bringing in bigger acts, they expanded to their new location on Old Jacksonville. Jonasi’s performance will be part of the grand opening for the new space.

“Rose City Comedy is thrilled to welcome Learnmore Jonasi to Tyler, Texas,” said Kristopher “Shy” Blakeman, comedy club owner. “This incredible talent is bringing his one-of-a-kind comedy to East Texas, offering a preview of the top-tier entertainment we have in store for 2025.”

According to Jonasi, his standup this weekend is going to be an “eye-opening show.”

“I like to kind of educate a little bit and I like to learn, so it’s going to be a little bit of back and forth with the audience,” he said. “So, I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a great show.”

For more information about the Rose City Comedy Club, visit their website www.rosecitycomedy.club.