Mr Jokes gives up on piracy

Stand-up comedian Mr Jokes, real name Andrea Thonyiwa, says he is powerless to fight against piracy of his DVDs.

Mr Jokes has been selling his DVDs by himself in Limbe.

However, some vendors are selling same DVDs in Lilongwe and Mzuzu where the comedian does not distribute.

And in an interview last week, the thespian said that he has given up on efforts to trace people who pirate and distribute his work saying he has no capacity to do that.

“I sell my DVDs myself in Limbe in Blantyre, but I am surprised that these DVDs are also selling like hot cakes in Lilongwe and Mzuzu where I have not distributed. I tried to fight this piracy, but I have just accepted that this is a big war which I cannot win,” said Mr Jokes.

He said although he is angry to see some people benefiting from his work without giving him a share, he is happy that people in areas as far as Mzuzu are enjoying his work in the DVDs.

“I cannot produce enough DVDs to reach places as far as Mzuzu. Hence, although I bemoan piracy, let fans enjoy my work,” he said.

Mr Jokes has four DVDs of comedy and he said the fifth one will hit the market towards the end of November this year. He said by selling the DVDs himself in Limbe, he is able to sell 600 copies ever day.