Ckanyiso DatGuy: The Underdog Making Big Laughs Look Easy
PATIENCE MUSA
When Ckanyiso DatGuy stepped on stage at the Hyatt Regency last Saturday, you could feel it in the air—this wasn’t just a comedy show, it was a homecoming of sorts.
The crowd came ready to laugh, and he came ready to remind everyone why he belongs on that stage, dreadlocks, suit jacket, and all. “It felt like I was alive again,” he says, “Performing comedy gives me purpose.”
The irony isn’t lost on him—being a Rasta-looking guy cracking punchlines at a 5-star hotel wasn’t something people expected. But for Ckanyiso, that’s where the magic lies: in defying expectations and giving people belly-aching laughs wrapped in thoughtful, everyday observations.
One of the standout moments of the night didn’t even come from his own set—it was MC Josh, who cleverly highlighted how we’ve lost touch with humanity through the wild, sometimes brutal, comments people leave online. “That hit me,” Ckanyiso admits. But it’s also a reflection of the kind of comedy scene he’s excited to be part of: smart, sharp, and fearless.
Ckanyiso’s process is methodical. “I list ideas, connect them, build a story, and rehearse over and over,” he says. “It’s all about setup and punchline. Not just giggles—I’m aiming for big laughs.” That careful crafting shows. What starts as a simple idea becomes a polished set, fine-tuned through sneaky conversations with friends. “Now I just slide the joke into a chat. If they laugh, I know it’s a keeper.”
But comedy wasn’t always the plan. He discovered his gift later in life. After being inspired by local stand-up and watching hours of Katt Williams’ Pimp Chronicles, he found a path: “I realized I could tell stories in a funny way.” His earliest influences? The chaos-loving Paraffin, silent-genius Mr. Bean, and the legendary Charlie Chaplin. “Mr. Bean got me beatings,” he laughs, “because I’d copy his pranks!”
The stage has come to feel like home now, but it wasn’t always that way. His first time at Book Café in 2012 was nerve-wracking, though the jokes landed. After a four-year break to study the art form, Saturday’s performance felt like second nature. “The nerves were still there, but the delivery—waaay better.”
So what is Ckanyiso’s brand of comedy? It’s relatable, thoughtful, and built on the idea that everyday experiences connect us all. “I’m all about the kid that’s within us,” he says. Whether it’s the chaos of adulting, cultural quirks, or the weirdness of being human, he taps into something familiar and spins it into gold.
He admits that personal challenges and mismatched upbringings often fuel his writing. “My policy is: always be happy and expect everyone to be happy,” he says. “If I don’t see happiness, I dig deeper. That’s usually where the jokes come from.”
Despite the laughs, he’s cautious. He avoids vulgarity and sticks to self-deprecating humour to avoid offending others—though even then, he knows the line is thin. “If I offend, then oops,” he says with a shrug.
Performing for Zimbabwean audiences is its own sport, but Ckanyiso has cracked the code. “I always play the underdog. People connect with that—it makes them feel superior, and that opens the door for laughs.” It’s this awareness that allows him to read the room and win people over, night after night.
He’s also witnessing comedy evolve locally. “There’s less gatekeeping now. More spaces, more shows. The scene is growing fast.” That growth means more opportunities—and more chances for things to go wrong. He remembers one joke, six years ago, that flopped not once, but twice in a row. “It wasn’t even that bad, but the audience felt offended instead of surprised,” he recalls. “I scrapped it. That’s when I realized—I’d rather joke
But even as his star rises, Ckanyiso remains grounded. “Outside of this, I’m just a boring accounting consultant. A brother, a son. Church keeps me centred. God keeps me focused.”
Right now, his focus is on building the show at the Hyatt Regency into a regular comedy hub. Touring and a comedy special are on the horizon, but first—he wants to build a loyal audience that never misses a “Ckanyiso Dat Guy” set.
His dream? To sell out theatres across Zimbabwe, fill up HICC, and eventually perform at Madison Square Garden. “So help me God,” he says.
What does he want to be remembered for? “As the guy who showed the world that we have international-standard stand-up in Zimbabwe. And the guy who helped raise the bar for other comedians.”
If you ever hear him joke about being a Rasta or confess his undying love for underwear, know that you’re witnessing the classics—his ride-or-die jokes that will never leave his set.
Ckanyiso Dat Guy isn’t just funny—he’s building a legacy, one laugh at a time. You might come to his show expecting jokes, but you’ll leave knowing you just watched someone doing exactly what they were born to do. Trust me—go watch him. You’ll be laughing long after the lights go out.
