Munya Chawawa, the comedian known for his parody news sketches and expressive eyebrows, is stepping into more serious territory. The 29-year-old has explored Zimbabwe, where he grew up, and the legacy of Robert Mugabe in a new Channel 4 documentary.
Chawawa says he wanted to understand why he had to leave a place he describes as paradise. "It's where I'm from," he told BBC Newsbeat. "I went back to where I came from, to tell the story about what I think is one of the greatest places on Earth." Mugabe led Zimbabwe for 37 years until 2017, initially broadening access to health and education before his rule was marked by violent repression and economic collapse.
The comedian acknowledges Zimbabwe is often portrayed negatively, but insists it is beautiful and rich in culture. True to form, he hopes he has made "the first documentary in history to explain dictatorships with R&B". While he once studied politics at A-Level before dropping it, he says his interest lies in the emotions politics stirs, which have been impossible to ignore in satire.
Fans often wonder how Chawawa produces topical videos so quickly. "It's all in the eyebrows," he jokes. But he admits there is pressure to react instantly, adding that sometimes stories need to marinate: "The tripod is set up, but sometimes you get the gold after one or two days."
He measures career milestones by how much they make him sweat, and meeting Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was a particularly sweaty moment. His past targets include Nigella Lawson, for whom he invented a "shepherd's jerk" fusion dish. How to Survive a Dictator with Munya Chawawa is available on Channel 4 now.
