The Sunday Mail
Kimberly Mhembere
GONE are the days when people would only rely on the inimitable Mukadota, Gringo or Paraffin for a dose of comedy on the small screen.
A new breed of comedians now graces national television.
New technologies and platforms have also broadened the pool to select from.
Social media, for example, has spawned a plethora of comedians whose hilarious skits are only an internet bundle away.
Bhutisi, Boss Kheda, Madam Boss, Mai TT, Comic Pastor and Doc Vikela have arguably been birthed by the new revolution in entertainment.
And Goddlyzeus, whose real name is Shelton Tafadzwa Tinarwo, seems to be the new kid on the block.
His unique skits have catapulted him to the limelight and corporates are stampeding to associate their brands with him.
“I grew up watching my dad telling jokes. With time, I followed in his footsteps, always staying positive. I used to tell jokes to my friends and family. Following in my father’s footsteps gave me so much joy,” said the Harare-born Goddlyzeus in an interview with The Sunday Mail Society.
So powerful was his desire to entertain that he had to abandon his profession as an interior architect to focus on professional jesting.
Goddlyzeus studied interior architecture at Yakin Dogu Üniversitesi (Near East University) in Cyprus.
“Everyone around me would often tell me to start creating content and this was the main reason behind making such a bold decision to self-educate on recording and editing videos, learning new languages and culture so as to share my passion for art with the world,” he said.
But some of his family members were initially not chuffed by the career switch.
“I knew I was destined for greatness and, of course, some never believed in me. However, I did not allow this to demotivate me. I kept pushing until I got my breakthrough.”
Goddlyzeus started by producing a unique brand of food skits that attracted the attention of many businesses in the food industry.
Acting, the comedian said, was part of culture and helped him connect with the public.
“A combination of my love for food and colleagues encouraging me to pursue comedy led me to where I am today. I love food and comedy, and so decided to normalise my comedy through different cultural dishes,” he added.
Through comedy, he has partnered with brands like “The Southern African Times”, Access Forex, Mr Sauce, Sasai and Munch.
In a bid to launch his brand “What Should I Do”, he began to create educational TikTok videos showcasing different types of Turkish and Arabic cuisines.
His efforts got noticed by restaurants and businesses in Cyprus, which subsequently resulted in him being engaged for adverts.
Buoyed by the success he had abroad, Goddlyzeus decided to move back home to officially launch his career.
“They liked how I entertained the audience with jokes in my content while, at the same time, advertising their meals. I then realised I could do more in my own country.”
He equally uses the skits to fight any forms of discrimination.
“While I was enjoying the perks of being a celebrated food comedian in a foreign country, I noticed that Zimbabweans abroad were still stereotyped. This drove me to want to market the things I love about my own culture, showcasing what we have to the rest of the world,” said Goddlyzeus.
He believes his decision to move back home and establish the “Zimbabweans Are Awesome” series has paid off.
