The name Tannah is established in Malawi as a comedian. What started as short video clips on social media has actually established a career for the 25-year old. Our reporter BRIAN ITAI caught up with Tannah to get to know him better.
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The name Tannah is established in Malawi as a comedian. What started as short video clips on social media has actually established a career for the 25-year old. Our reporter BRIAN ITAI caught up with Tannah to get to know him better.
Q
: Who is Tannah the comedian?
A
: My name is Tannah Sydney Harawa, born 25 years ago and I am the second born in a family of three. I was born in Mzuzu and I have spent my childhood in Mzuzu. I did my primary education at Msongwe Primary School in the city then moved to Lilongwe. I have attended a number of secondary schools such as SOS, Katoto and Lisumbwi.
Q
: How did you find yourself in the comedy and acting business?
A
: I have always admired being an actor. So, a few years ago I wanted to give it a try and I approached a videographer Doctor V and told him that I thought I am a good actor and if he wants to use me I would be grateful. He accommodated me. We did a few videos and uploaded them on YouTube but it didn’t work. I eventually gave up.
After a few years, I enrolled at Pentecostal Life University. There I joined a school WhatsApp group. So, when debating serious issues I was always coming up with something to disturb the whole conversation. One time I did a broken English voice note and it went viral and people were urging me to do a similar thing again. Then I started doing broken English audios.
To me it was just for fun, but later, I started receiving messages from famous musicians to make promos for them while other people started asking me to make birthday wishes for them in broken English. Due to the high demand I started making people pay for my services. Then rapper Tay Grin gave me a platform to perform at Bingu International Convention Centre on June 9, 2017 at an event was organised by South African High Commission and Mafikizolo were also performing. It was my first time to hold a microphone in front of the then leader of opposition in Parliament Lazarus Chakwera who is now the country’s President and other government dignitaries. I nailed it and people were in tears because of laughter. I regard that performance as my breakthrough. From that day, I started being booked for events, radio adverts and the like.
Q
: Have you undergone any professional training in this trade?
A
: I haven’t undergone any training but I have plans to do so just to sharpen my skills.
Q
: Since you started, what have been some of your outstanding achievements?
A
: I have managed to achieved a number of things. Recently I got an award/prize from Unesco for best content on Covid-19. I have also been engaged in big projects by companies and organisations.
Q
: How do you look at the influence your art has had particularly in view of the doors of opportunities that you have managed to unlock?
A
: It has been so huge. The recognition that I have received in many aspects from individuals and organisations has been massive. I have been engaged by big organisations and companies to help them on their different projects and campaigns. I have also recently featured in two film projects which are yet to be released.
Q
: What are some of the challenges that you face as a Malawian comedian?
A
: Among the many challenges I face is the cost of data. It is very expensive; hence, many people are not able to access our work on YouTube. People just share videos on WhatsApp which for an artist is a minus as it affects the numbers of views on other online platforms such as YouTube. Once the views on YouTube are monetised it is what you earn. From that aspect, we are losing out as artists.
Q
: Can one survive solely as a comedian in Malawi?
A
: With a proper strategy one can make it as a comedian. I get 80 percent of my earnings through being an artist and I am able to sustain myself.
Q
: Not so long ago you announced a working relationship with fellow comedian Nya Uyu. What has been happening?
A
: My working relationship with NyaUyu is still intact despite taking time without releasing something as a duo. We are currently working on some projects which will be released soon.
Q
: Any last words…
A
: I would like to thank my team Essim of Animal Lab Productions, Miracle of Fresh Touch Productions, Mig Creations, Raw Jam Records and my manager Dennis Imaan and my fans. These people make the brand Tannah (Mr Broken English) to tick.
Q
: Who is Tannah the comedian?
A
: My name is Tannah Sydney Harawa, born 25 years ago and I am the second born in a family of three. I was born in Mzuzu and I have spent my childhood in Mzuzu. I did my primary education at Msongwe Primary School in the city then moved to Lilongwe. I have attended a number of secondary schools such as SOS, Katoto and Lisumbwi.
Q
: How did you find yourself in the comedy and acting business?
A
: I have always admired being an actor. So, a few years ago I wanted to give it a try and I approached a videographer Doctor V and told him that I thought I am a good actor and if he wants to use me I would be grateful. He accommodated me. We did a few videos and uploaded them on YouTube but it didn’t work. I eventually gave up.
After a few years, I enrolled at Pentecostal Life University. There I joined a school WhatsApp group. So, when debating serious issues I was always coming up with something to disturb the whole conversation. One time I did a broken English voice note and it went viral and people were urging me to do a similar thing again. Then I started doing broken English audios.
To me it was just for fun, but later, I started receiving messages from famous musicians to make promos for them while other people started asking me to make birthday wishes for them in broken English. Due to the high demand I started making people pay for my services. Then rapper Tay Grin gave me a platform to perform at Bingu International Convention Centre on June 9, 2017 at an event was organised by South African High Commission and Mafikizolo were also performing. It was my first time to hold a microphone in front of the then leader of opposition in Parliament Lazarus Chakwera who is now the country’s President and other government dignitaries. I nailed it and people were in tears because of laughter. I regard that performance as my breakthrough. From that day, I started being booked for events, radio adverts and the like.
Q
: Have you undergone any professional training in this trade?
A
: I haven’t undergone any training but I have plans to do so just to sharpen my skills.
Q
: Since you started, what have been some of your outstanding achievements?
A
: I have managed to achieved a number of things. Recently I got an award/prize from Unesco for best content on Covid-19. I have also been engaged in big projects by companies and organisations.
Q
: How do you look at the influence your art has had particularly in view of the doors of opportunities that you have managed to unlock?
A
: It has been so huge. The recognition that I have received in many aspects from individuals and organisations has been massive. I have been engaged by big organisations and companies to help them on their different projects and campaigns. I have also recently featured in two film projects which are yet to be released.
Q
: What are some of the challenges that you face as a Malawian comedian?
A
: Among the many challenges I face is the cost of data. It is very expensive; hence, many people are not able to access our work on YouTube. People just share videos on WhatsApp which for an artist is a minus as it affects the numbers of views on other online platforms such as YouTube. Once the views on YouTube are monetised it is what you earn. From that aspect, we are losing out as artists.
Q
: Can one survive solely as a comedian in Malawi?
A
: With a proper strategy one can make it as a comedian. I get 80 percent of my earnings through being an artist and I am able to sustain myself.
Q
: Not so long ago you announced a working relationship with fellow comedian Nya Uyu. What has been happening?
A
: My working relationship with NyaUyu is still intact despite taking time without releasing something as a duo. We are currently working on some projects which will be released soon.
Q
: Any last words…
A
: I would like to thank my team Essim of Animal Lab Productions, Miracle of Fresh Touch Productions, Mig Creations, Raw Jam Records and my manager Dennis Imaan and my fans. These people make the brand Tannah (Mr Broken English) to tick.
