Andrew Manyika’s ‘In Case You Missed It’ review – An impressive blend of stand-up comedy and spoken word poetry

TAKUDZWA HILLARY CHIWANZA

HARARE – Now, this was my second time watching Andrew Manyika perform a one-man show (his sixth on the overall); and everything he did on the Reps Theatre stage on 31 August 2024 spoke volumes about the maturity and precision he infuses in his work. Draped in the aura of unfettered artistry, his fusion of stand-up comedy and spoken word poetry makes him the unique talent he thinks he is; and without doubt this is his unique selling point. It is just the perfect fit for those who crave as many words as possible in a single performance. 

Andrew Manyika performing at his ‘In Case You Missed It’ show at Reps Theatre, Harare, on August 31. [Image: Supplied] 

Evidently, his name is still on the peripheries, but the wit, calm demeanour, and composed charisma he puts in his craft give him the potential to rise up the ranks and become one of the known names in the game. On that, I am pretty much confident. He feeds the fires of sociopolitical commentary with his carefully chosen words that he conveys with enviable elocution—but it is his poetry that we get to understand how much of a serious figure he is when he is not eliciting endless laughter from the crowd. And yes, he has great audience control. 

Such is the strength of Andrew Manyika: performing comedy and poetry at the same time. His transitions are smooth—and his themes see him needling the audience on sensitive subjects. He is not one to go for cheap controversial topics, a sign that he has taken years to perfect his pen. Clearly, blending stand-up comedy and spoken word poetry is indubitable evidence that Andrew Manyika is successfully forging his new ground. Sometimes there is a lingering feeling that he could do just a bit more of the jokes; but the potency of his poetry makes up for that. 

His poetry is one devoid of any hesitancy, as he always sets out to lay bare his truth—the truth of a society in anguish; the truth of a society crushed by disjointed hopes and aspirations. He is careful not to be overtly political, but any message that tells people to conquer their inferiority complex and realize their potential and the power of their land is always on the risk of bordering on the political. His spoken word is an attempt to inspire a positive image about our country, and that alone suffices to make him a conscious artist who is acutely aware of our current situation. 

Image: Supplied 

His comedy is as sunny as ever; and he is the joker who gets you relaxed, delivering jokes about marriage that make you appreciate its beauty and some of its contradictions. He makes you ready to digest all the beautiful art he has to serve; truly giving fans value for their money. 

And he gave a platform to other creatives that specializes in words—Panado (comedian) and Fusion 5 Mangwiro (music band) got their chance to warm the stage, as well as the versatile Kuda Rice with his poems that leave you questioning the purpose of existence and the conditions of our society. 

Andrew Manyika's direction is commendable. And one can only hope to get more and more from him, as the years do their job in further perfecting his craft. It is not many times that we get a stand-up comedian performing comedy and poetry at the same time. But such is Andrew Manyika's heartfelt contribution to the world of art.