Justine Wanda wants everyone to know that laughter is good for the soul. Whether mocking tough times or politicians, she believes that comedy is truth. Wanda works as a stand-up comic, writer, and political satirist. To most, she’s best known for her online series Fake Woke with Justine. When asked about which brand of comedy she prefers, Wanda refused to pick a favourite, “I love comedy in all forms. I plan to write a comedy children’s book.”
She also describes the pros and cons of each, “Standup is about making people laugh in real-time. It is like a drug. It doesn’t allow a repeat. There’s no starting from scratch until next time.” Satirical videos can be redone, their reward is in their impact, and responses. It bridges a gap where Wanda weaponizes humour to contextualise a political issue. The feedback she gets is its reward, “You can’t pick which reward is better.” To Wanda, all comedy is rewarding.
The beginning
Stand-up
Wanda started as a stand-up comedian at Number 7. A friend of hers was running an open mic night and added her to the roster. Her first comedy show was amid musicians, slam poets, and spoken word performers. She hadn’t mastered the art of comedy then. “I got a chuckle or two, didn’t know the setup of stand-up at the time. I was doing my best, saying the funniest thing the fastest. The stage was near the kitchen and I have a weak chest. I’m talking while choking and coughing, walking towards the door. I’m telling a story while crying, one lady heckling.” This was a turning point for Wanda, an opportunity to learn how to perfect her craft. The goal was to get fewer hecklers, be bolder, and improve what works. But even so, Wanda insists her real start at comedy was at school.
A pragmatist at heart, Wanda shares that she was a class clown. She wrote a lot in high school and used self-mockery to counter authority. Relying on humour helped deflect personal issues. She didn’t like conformism and didn’t realise the roots of her sedition against manufactured groupthink. At the time, she was unaware that she had a gift for satire. But still, she was a sponge, soaking up all the literary devices she was exposed to. “I was exposed to different writing styles from Chinua Achebe to John Kiriamiti. I read Whispers [by Wahome Mutahi] and thought this is really good.” Wanda credits her primary school English teacher with perfecting her prose—find emotion in writing, avoid purple prose—he advised.
Satire
As a satirist, Wanda was inspired by the Kenyan originators of political satire, Redykyulass. She was inspired by how the group, comprising John Kiarie, Tony Njuguna, and Walter “Nyambane” Mong’are, gave courage to a new generation to speak out against oppression. Kenyan satire was spearheaded by the likes of Maddo (Paul Kelemba) and Gado (Godfrey Mwapembwa) who published satirical panels in newspapers for decades. Wanda believes that these pioneers, along with their descendants like Red Kona and Blessed Njugush, enable a proletariat to stay aware in an entertaining way.
She was also inspired by What’s Up Arica hosted by Ikenna Azuike which opened her eyes to the adage “Africa is a country”. This is perhaps one of the most visible direct influences on Wanda’s brand of videos. Short, punchy, and witty commentary on what’s currently ongoing in Kenya, and sometimes Africa. She also drew from global satirists, most prominently, Jon Stewart, and John Oliver. She was also inspired by Hasan Minhaj, Samantha Bee, Rachel Parris, “I want to do work like that. It just doesn’t sit as some piece you do but it transcends time.”
Why Wanda believes in the impact of political satire
Wanda believes Kenyans are a naturally funny people. And this way, it was easy to reach her audience and help make Kenyan socio-political issues more digestible. But she never thought she’d grow up to be a comedian. She never had career goals. At different stages growing up, she wanted to be a dancer, writer, storefront designer, and even an astronaut, “I’m just floating through this life,” she quipped.
Her very first foray into satirical videos was during the 2018 Huduma Number saga. The program was a brainchild of the former regime, a way to consolidate all identifying information into one card that can also be used for payments. Wanda wasn’t particularly pleased with her video, “It was confusing to me. I didn’t know how to set up video.” She struggled with the larger intricacies of video content creation, such as sound, lighting, and editing. But she kept at it. Now a recognised satirist with some of her fans even calling her, “A Kenyan John Oliver.”
Eventually, Wanda quit her job as a designer. With her friends’ encouragement, she took on her new mantle. “I wanted to help people understand governance, and how it’s tied to systemic failure.” One may wonder why Wanda takes the time to tell people about these issues. They already have the news. Why would comedically resharing it have any impact? Wanda thought back to her most impactful video. She recollects her videos about the housing levy, and when JKIA (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) was making Kenyans and visitors pay alarming fees upon entry. She contributed to the growing voices that protested against these punitive measures. Eventually, the Kenyan Revenue Authority reconsidered how they go about collecting customs fees.
The unity of comedy
Wanda’s voice is a part of a larger patchwork of public participation. “I don’t think the government understands that we’re not simple,” she said. She felt pulled to remain in this persona because of specific news items. “There’s nothing funny about news,” she added solemnly, “I remember reading about students who drowned on their way to school because the local administrators failed to build a bridge. Parents couldn’t take their kids to school and the Education Minister didn’t do anything about the bridge.” The leaders failing Kenyans at such fundamental levels need exposure. Making it funny keeps it digestible, and avoids desensitisation, but it doesn’t save other kids unless other Kenyans use this awareness to demand change.
Justine Wanda outside of politics
She isn’t limited to social justice and politics. Outside of these, Wanda tried to find a way to pay homage to Kenyan musicians. In the final episodes of the last season, The Problem with PlayKE Music, Wanda broke down issues with gatekeeping and identity structures. She also took the time to celebrate Kenyan artists like Muthoni the Drummer Queen and Blinky Bill, “Who followed me!” she added jovially. Wanda pointed out the disingenuousness of Kenyan listeners who claim to be promoters of local art. Wanda may have a vested interest in music probably because of a short-lived rap career in high school that lasted a few months.
The real Justine Wanda stands up
As forthright as Wanda is—she shared how her parents died when she was four and she was adopted by her uncle and his wife. Wanda is also a big advocate for orphans. She also talked about how she was born in Nairobi, and then lived in Kakamega, Kilifi, and Mombasa where she attended primary school, and Eldoret where she attended secondary school. She lived in Nairobi after that, admitting that she found a way through it all through a healthy dose of pragmatism. As open as the 32-year-old comedian is, she refuses to publish her work under her real name.
“I went with Fake Woke with Justine Wanda because I was afraid of getting doxxed.” Justine Wanda is a play on her real name. She thinks of Ken Saro-Wiwa, a Nigerian satirist, and activist who led nonviolent campaigns against environmental pollution in Ogoniland perpetuated by the Royal Dutch Shell Company. The Nigerian state executed him in 1995 after a military tribunal found him guilty of inciting the deaths of Ogoni chiefs sympathetic to the military government. Wanda likes to believe that she’s too “small” to come under the government’s radar but she cautions, “Being small fish doesn’t mean someone is not watching.”
She believes in being real, in being connected with her audience but she can’t use their responses to determine the trajectory of her content. “I listen but I don’t incorporate people’s voices. I’ll lose my voice. If you make comedy for other people, you’re not going to make it far… I appreciate the feedback but I choose what cuts true to me.”
When the comedy stops
It’s not as cut and dried as imagined to come up with comedy. There are topics that Wanda doesn’t know how to satirise. “If it doesn’t change your mind, I failed and that’s ok too.” Subjects like abortion rights, the struggles of marginalised communities, or abuse are difficult to talk about for Wanda. She recognises her shortcomings in speaking about an identity intersection she isn’t a part of. “I would never want to make them feel like they’re being ridiculed.”
For Wanda, what matters most is honesty and how to be as funny as possible. To help people grapple with what affects them. But sometimes it’s the audience that falls short, “There is a lack of honest conversation. People like to engage and fight in a way that benefits them. And in certain conversations I have to fight not to comment.”
It’s not all bleak, even though, “Usually comedy is built on tragedy. But I also like to share stories that are uplifting where people are fighting back or entertainment stories.” For Wanda, what’s most rewarding is getting to make something funny every day.
What’s more for Justine
Wanda has great admiration for comedians Mammito and Esther Kazungu. She explains, “They just understand comedy on a level I admire.” Wanda hopes to work with both of them. She has a collaborative series, Office of the Government Spokesman, with another internet comedian, Maina Munene. Eventually, she hopes to create a multiverse of satirising the government.
Her comedy children’s book will be like a tutorial on satire for younger minds. Making comedy for children that isn’t patronising will be challenging. Wanda knows what awaits her in finding the expertise to bridge that gap.
She dreams of eventually working for shows like Last Week Tonight, The Daily Show, or a network TV special. While the goals may sound lofty, they are possible. Systemic issues like gatekeeping won’t keep her down. “Some people want to work together but they don’t want to platform you,” she states. But if she wasn’t a comedian, she’d still be the best at whatever she puts her mind to. “If you have nothing, you have to create the magic.”
Connect with Justine Wanda on Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.
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