It’s home sweet home for ManLikeTats
STAFF WRITER
Zimbabwe has millions of people in the diaspora and many left their language and culture as soon as they flew out.
Speaking to many outside the country including in Europe, America, China and Australia, they hardly speak in their native language and know none or little about their norms and values.
Not so for social media sensation Tatenda Smart Nyaruwe (21) who left Zimbabwe at only one and half years heading to Australia with his parents.
Affectionately known as ManLikeTats or KaTats Kenyika, Nyaruwe has made a name for himself on social media, mainly Tik Tok where he posts videos of him speaking in Shona.
Though he does that with some difficulty, Nyaruwe insists it is important to know one’s culture even when based outside the country.
Speaking in an interview on ZiFM Stereo’s most followed radio show, The Rush, with celebrity presenter Samantha Mussa, famously known as MisRed, Nyaruwe credited his parents for maintaining their stance in conversing with him in Shona and keeping with the cultural values.
“l am happy to be back home,” he said. “We are now in Zimbabwe and we are happy. It’s been nine years but home is home. If I walk in Harare l don’t feel scared but I feel home and this for me is always home.”
.
Nyaruwe said his journey to become a social media sensation began when he was 17 years and in high school during the COVID-19 era.
He said his mother was the one who came with the idea after realising most Zimbabweans were on Tik Tok.
“Tik Tok is a massive platform and Zimbabweans are there. They follow a lot and my mum is the one that told me to go on Tik Tok and speak Shona there. That’s how it started,” he said.
“I said let me try some videos and see how it goes. Firstly, I was doing Australian stuff and speaking in English and teaching people about high school and other things. My mum then said I must speak in Shona on the platform and that’s how it started.
“Many people said they could relate and they admired me but I get shouted at sometimes,” he said with a chuckle.
“I try and teach Zimbabweans the culture and my mum and dad are my teachers. At home they speak to us in Shona,” he added.
Nyaruwe is in the country until the 10th of January.
“I knew that I had built a huge audience in Zimbabwe and l said how can I make these videos and not go home so I booked my tickets and now I am here,” he said.
On whether he was making money with his videos, Nyaruwe said: “I make money but obviously I am not at the level I would want to.”
“My message helps other people in the diaspora so I portray that in a funny way.
We need to promote our food and language even in the diaspora.”
