Illustrative image | Kagiso Mokgadi (Source: Politically Aweh Podcast); Justine Wanda (Source: Politically Aweh Podcast) 
Justine Wanda’s honest interview, like her comedy, is what makes African governments sweat. But she also pulls no punches while describing how African citizens deal with trauma, corruption and maladministration. Her take? The headlines already feel like satire, comedians are just doing quality control.
She’s part of a new generation of entertainer-commentators who break down the uncomfortable reality of being treated like a news source in a time when trust in institutions is flatlining.
“I am terrified about people coming to a comedian for answers,” she says. “Our attention spans are at an all time [low of] 0.2 percent,” (a statistic she proudly invented in real time) which might explain why satire is doing the heavy lifting.
This episode digs into Kenya’s youth-led protests, sparked by tax hikes on bread, sanitary pads and diapers, and how that moment spilled into something bigger. As Justine puts it: “If we can all go protest together, we don’t have jobs, this can be our job. There’s no payment, but it’s group work.”
She speaks openly about leadership across the region too (or the lack thereof).
“I have very little faith in African presidents,” she says. “Most of them are not doing anything of importance.” And at the heart of the generational tension? What she calls the continent’s “national daddy issues”. Instead of active citizens holding elected officials to account, many across the continent have a reverence for elders who remain in power for decades. In her words: “Your dad is a thief. Your national dad does not care about you as a person.”
Despite the heavy topics, Wanda keeps the humour razor sharp, reminding us what satire actually does: holds up a mirror while keeping us sane. And still, she insists: “I just want to make jokes.”
It’s a first foray for Politically Aweh into East African politics, after a recent collaboration with Zimbabwe’s Magamba Network on a campaign to highlight Big Tech’s enabling role in spreading and amplifying climate misinformation called #LogOffTheLies. The new video featuring local comedian Anton Taylor (yes, the same one who was raided by the Hawks!) can be watched here.
Politically Aweh’s upcoming documentary film about the G20 Summit and youth voices also features Wanda and will be published in early December. DM
For more from Politically Aweh, subscribe on YouTube, visit our website or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or X.