Staff Writer
Comedian Sabhuku Vharazipi’s dry jokes coupled by his failure to adapt to new media has cost his career big time so much so that he now blames it on arts promoters accusing them of “favouritism and nepotisim”.
The 50-year-old Sabhuku Vharazipi whose real name is David Mubaiwa, told The Herald that arts promoters sought the same comedians other than him for gigs a situation which has relegated him to his village in Mabaiwa in Masvingo.
“For so many times, our musicians are touring the Diaspora in countries like South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada and Australia, but it’s very rare to see our local comedians being given that slot,” he said.
Sabhuku Vharazipi rose to prominence when he featured in a ZBCTV comedy of the same title.
In that series set in the village, he acts as a witty but at times a village idiot who is corrupt, uncouth and an outcast.
While ZBCTV viewing audiences at the time enjoyed the show perhaps because there was no alternative to the state-run TV station, Sabhuku Vharazipi series ran its course and lacked in quality and entertainment value.
Such was its own undoing as the producers of Sabhuku Vharazipi failed to adapt to social media changes where there are audiences are not only consumers but also participants.
But even then, social media is more competitive for the likes of Sabhuku Vharipi to pull reasonable followers because there are many others who are doing comedy way better than him.
Skits which are shorter and made up of mostly slapstick humour are popular with social media users as compared to long comedies or series like Sabhuku Vaharazipi.
Regarding not being singed for gigs, Sabhuku Vharazipi might as well start performing street theatre go regain the audiences then put the skits on social media.
Once the videos start going viral then Sabuku Vharazipi will be back in business with arts promoters.
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