There is a certain brand of comedy that only clicks when viewers temporarily suspend their critical lens to enjoy the ride. Filmmakers like Adam Sandler and Eddie Murphy have found success in this territory, and now Vincent Mbaya—known for directing Country Queen (the first Kenyan series on Netflix), the Kalasha-winning crime drama Pepeta on Showmax, and the Kalasha-nominated drama film Chaguo—ventures into the same space with Sketchy Africans. The film features a lovable ensemble cast and invites its audience to embrace a similar indulgence.
The premise pits a young woman, pressured by financial woes and an overbearing family, against a group of indebted misfits struggling to repay a hefty loan. Sharing a mutual need for money, they hatch an elaborate scheme to fake a wedding so the woman can access her inheritance. Led by Nyokabi Macharia (Country Queen) and Bruce Makau (Kina), the cast also includes Morris Mwangi (Faithless), Shix Kapienga (Country Queen), Duncan Murunyu (Boda Love), Benson Ojuwa (Untying Kantai), Beatrice Kamuyu (Faithless), Gloria Songoro (Selina), and Andrew Levi (Shanga). While no single character stands out to ground the story, together, the group delivers quite an entertaining and tender performance as they bounce off each other, navigating one problem after another in their outlandish scheme.
The purpose of a comedy is to make people laugh, and Sketchy Africans delivers plenty of chuckle-worthy moments. Lowbrow, satirically convergent, and juvenile with jut-jawed determination, nearly every moment of the film oscillates between inspired and irreverent, blending absurdity with charm to produce a spark-driven comedy that takes one through a maze of a predictable yet surprisingly innovative plot. However, if you go in expecting a tightly written narrative with well-rounded characters and smart comedy, you will be disappointed. Sketchy Africans succeeds best when you tune out the mind for an hour or two and simply enjoy its chaotic energy.
The story itself is merely an excuse for an endless series of gags, and the percentage that land is fairly high. But even with these jokes, the reliance on standalone comedic bursts rather than a cohesive narrative often disrupts the flow. While this fits the “sketchy” vibe of the title, it sacrifices the emotional and narrative depth that could have elevated the film beyond its genre conventions.
On the technical side, Sketchy Africans is well-photographed and crisply paced, with a plucky spontaneity often lacking in contemporary comedies. The film has an old school vibrancy and engagement. The dynamic camera angles and close-ups amplify comedic timing, though there’s little innovation in the visual style. The brisk pacing keeps the energy high, accentuating the quirky oddball characters—from a laid-back Rastafarian to an overly conceited actor, an elderly TikTok enthusiast, and a diminutive villain flanked by muscular bodyguards. These characters deliver exactly what one might expect from this genre: an ensemble of good actors—though not always primed for comedic improv— hanging out, scene after scene, trying to top one another.
By the film’s end, once the dopamine wears off and the brain has a chance to reboot, the events in the story indeed feel sketchy. Character motivations lack genuineness, the cause and resolution of the central conflict seem rushed, and the chemistry between characters, while buoyed by the film’s gaiety, rarely extends into deeper emotional connections. Clearly sourced from the collective ideas of actors and writers, Sketchy Africans never escapes the feeling of being hastily developed, which while consistent with its chaotic charm, ultimately limits its emotional payoff. This can make the experience feel incomplete – entertaining in the moment but less memorable afterward.
That said, Sketchy Africans may not be a perfect film, but it is the kind of movie Kenyan audiences love. Judging from the enthusiastic reactions at the premiere at Prestige Cinema, it’s clear this is a film that resonates with its audience. While it isn’t nonstop hilarity and has its share of dead spots, in its amiable narrative shabbiness, it achieves its purpose: to entertain. The film’s humour, cultural touches, and endearing cast ensure it leaves audiences laughing, which, for this genre, might just be enough.
Sketchy Africans is currently showing in cinemas.
