Munya Chawawa has been confirmed as the host of the Rolling Stone UK Awards in collaboration with Rémy Martin, taking place on Thursday 23rd November at the iconic Roundhouse in London.
Chawawa’s journey into comedy was somewhat unexpected. Originally aspiring to be a TV presenter, he stumbled into comedy in 2018 when he decided to address Jamie Oliver’s controversial jerk rice recipe through an Instagram skit. This moment ignited his passion for comedy and set him on a new path.
Since then, Chawawa has gained immense popularity with videos that humorously dissect current events. His video parody of Shaggy’s ‘It Wasn’t Me’ in response to former Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s affair garnered over 3 million views. He continues to use his platform to address critical issues, such as the UK government’s proposed ban on XL Bully dogs, drawing clever parallels with the migrant crisis.
Chawawa’s journey from a Norfolk village to a celebrated comedian reflects his dedication to his craft. His grandad’s influence sparked his early interest in comedy, and he has now embarked on his first UK stand-up tour, which includes sold-out shows at London’s Kentish Town Forum.
Zimbabwe holds a special place in Chawawa’s heart. While he moved there as a child, he returned to the UK due to political and financial turmoil. His experiences of transitioning from Zimbabwe to a quiet English village were marked by culture shock, but he used these experiences as comedic fodder. Chawawa’s humour not only entertains but also tackles important topics like race and cultural differences.
During his stand-up tour, Chawawa takes his audience on a journey, sharing humorous anecdotes about his experiences in England. He uses humour to address challenging subjects, such as colonialism and stolen artifacts. But it’s not just about the laughs; Chawawa delves into deeper themes, revealing how societal expectations about masculinity led him to seek therapy.
Chawawa’s honesty about seeking therapy is a testament to his growth as a comedian and a person. He recognizes the pressure to conform to traditional ideas of masculinity, especially within Zimbabwean culture, and how it clashed with his career as a satirist. His willingness to be vulnerable on stage and discuss his journey towards a new form of masculinity is both courageous and enlightening.
“In Zimbabwean culture at least, there are expectations put on a man to be this strong unshakeable rock at the centre of his family and that means suppressing your emotions. But I also had the pressure of wanting to be the satirist that I feel like I need to be to earn my place on panel shows and magazine covers,” he explains in an interview with Rolling Stone. “It was the conflict between those two things, the immovable object of African masculinity versus the unstoppable force of fast-moving pressure from this new job. I’m very thankful that I didn’t have a breakdown and that I was able to talk about it in the show and channel it positively into conversations with my other male friends and start to define a new type of masculinity within my own life that hopefully one day I can pass on. There was definitely pressure and it intermingled to create something that made me ask, ‘Am I going to let this break me, or am I going to break it?’
“In my tour, that is really the catharsis I needed to bury that issue because I’m the master of it now. I can go onstage and speak about it and be vulnerable and feel like I’ve addressed it and not hidden it anymore. It was so scary but so rewarding.”
As Chawawa’s comedy continues to evolve and resonate with audiences, his father has shown support for his work. He’s also received praise from fellow artists like Stormzy, who attended one of his shows. The journey from Instagram to becoming a prominent figure in British comedy is a testament to Chawawa’s hard work and determination.
Munya Chawawa’s story is a remarkable one, from his roots in Zimbabwe to his thriving career as a comedian and presenter in the UK. His unique perspective on masculinity and his commitment to addressing crucial issues through humour make him an inspiring figure for audiences in Zimbabwe and beyond.
For a deeper understanding of Munya Chawawa’s journey and comedic evolution, we encourage you to explore the full Rolling Stone article. It provides an in-depth look at the man behind the humour and his profound impact on the comedy scene.
