Fatima Bulla-Musakwa
IMAGINE giving up a career in accounting to become a social media comedian.
This is the path that popular comedian Kudzai Chengedza chose and she has no regrets as her character, Mbuya VaPiyasoni, is making waves on social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.
Her skits average 10 000 likes on Facebook and Instagram, proving the kind of influence she commands on the audience.
The character, Mbuya VaPiyasoni, has become a favourite of many social media users because of her antics. She mimics how landlords treat their tenants and how mothers-in-law relate with their sons-in-law. She also presents melodramatic events that people encounter daily.
Famed for her Karanga dialect, Mbuya VaPiyasoni has left many fans in stitches.
Born 31 years ago, Chengedza’s acting career started flourishing when the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020, as lockdowns left many people with no option but to stay indoors and tune in to social media.
Chengedza did not disappoint the growing audience as she impressed them with innovative antics that kept them glued to her pages.
She is cashing in on her acts, as her popularity has seen several reputable companies signing her up to push their brands through her comedy.
In an interview, Chengedza revealed that while her career took off in 2020, she actually started acting in 2016.
“I had just completed my studies at Masvingo Polytechnic, where I obtained my qualifications in accounting. Soon after completing my studies, I decided to follow my passion, which is acting, by joining the Patsime Edutainment Trust. This is where I perfected my acting skills.
I was born in Harare, but grew up in Masvingo, where I attended primary and secondary school. However, my parents hail from Mutare.”
Chengedza said she first developed the Mbuya vaPiyasoni character two years ago. She was part of a team given a task at Patsime Edutainment Trust to come up with a character and scripts for Covid-19 awareness.
“This was the time when the foundation to mimic elderly people was laid as my fellow actors and I would try to outdo each other. Every time, we would look for something new that elderly people say. I got used to it and, now, I have it at the back of my mind. I get my inspiration from elderly people. Each time I see an elderly person, I try to imitate something from them,” she said.
While the Covid-19 pandemic era is known for leaving a painful mark on society, it enabled social media to be considered one of the best platforms to sell a product or skill.
“The internet empowers and exposes skills because everyone is glued to their phones every day. When one wakes up, the first thing one gets hold of is one’s phone,” said Chengedza.
To many people, Mbuya VaPiyasoni is now more than just a source of comedy.
The character now relates with people of different backgrounds, who get answers on issues affecting them.
The first skit that made Chengedza’s personality popular focused on a mother-in-law who was telling her son-in-law not to complain about her daughter’s habit of bed-wetting. Instead, she advised the imaginary son-in-law character to assist his wife to wash the blankets.
Other skits that have become popular include a church elder who was querying the pastor’s selection criteria for the church leadership. Through this character, she was lending advice to church members who feel entitled to get positions.
In real life, Chengedza spots a youthful and executive look, completely different from the haggard-looking Mbuya VaPiyasoni.
