Stand-up comedian Jack Nanjero will headline his first solo comedy special titled Mr. Tall, Dark & Handsome today, on July 18, at Suave Kitchen & Social Club in Westlands, Nairobi.
Presented by Standup Collective, the one-hour show explores Nanjero’s experiences as a new father and husband, his life as a comedian, and observations on relationships and current economic and political affairs.
He shares that the title of the show is an inside joke from his comedy circle. Ty Ngachira, one of his comedian friends, once introduced him as ‘Mr. Tall, Dark & Handsome’ before he stepped on stage to perform.
“But I’m not tall at all. I’m only 5'. 4. When he introduces me, the audience expects a very tall, imposing man, and then I walk on stage and they laugh. I’m dark, yes, but definitely not tall,” he says amusingly.
Mr. Tall, Dark & Handsome is his first body of work that he has put together after about seven years of doing stand-ups. It is equally a culmination of material he has spent the past year creating and testing before audiences in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Nanyuki.
Now, he wants to record his performance and release it on YouTube, then start writing new material, in what he describes as a cycle of a comedian.
“I'm talking about being a new dad while being a comedian. It's a very unconventional position to be in. I'm also talking about my marriage, the ups and downs of it. I hope people relate to those experiences,” he says.
He admits that writing jokes about fatherhood and family relationships has been among the challenging parts of preparing the show. It is, he explains, because it’s one of the biggest experiences in his life.
The show further delves into his relationship with his parents and the dynamics that many African families have. He says it is worth the risk because it makes the content relatable.
“I get material from everyday life too. I can be in a matatu or having a conversation with a friend and suddenly realise there's a joke in it," he says.
Nanjero says he chose Suave Kitchen & Social Club, which is run by Standup Collective, for the creative freedom the venue offers.
"Every time I perform there, I feel like I can be myself. It's a safe space where I can talk about anything without feeling judged," he says.
He notes that Nairobi’s stand-up comedy scene is gaining international attention, with the likes of Dave Chappelle and Robby Collins performing recently, because the city has built an audience which is hungry for comedy, and it shows.
Nanjero usually works with comedians such as Ty Ngachira, George Mbuto, and Bashir Halaiki through roast shows and open-mic performances. Though comedians tackle sensitive issues, he states that audiences generally understand the intention behind the humour.
“People may be offended sometimes, but true comedy fans understand that the goal isn't to hurt anyone. Comedy can make difficult topics easier to talk about,” he says.
His journey into comedy started with a challenge from a friend to perform at Kenya National Theatre's Poetry After Lunch event.
“It went terribly. Most people there were poets and spoken-word artists. However, it made me realise I could express myself through comedy, and I kept working at it,” he says.
Nanjero hopes the show will encourage more Kenyans to embrace stand-up comedy.
“Music is very mainstream, but comedy offers a different experience. You go out with friends, laugh together and leave feeling better. It feels like therapy,” he says.