Is Oliver Keith a comedian now?

Peter Matika, Senior Life Reporter
SOUTH Africa-based former Mr Bulawayo Oliver Keith Siamloboka may have rattled a hornet’s nest, in his attempt to penetrate comedy industry through social media.

Keith, as he is warmly known, has been recording and posting a number of skits on Facebook, most of them quite hilarious and have been viewed by more than 2 000 people.

In his most recent skit, he portrays himself as a gossip loving Zimbabwean woman, undermining a friend’s wedding.

He takes a jab at the “friend’s” wedding and wedding cake, which in the video he says is similar to that from a retail store, a comment, which the group “supposedly didn’t find amusing.”

“Shuwa siyekudla ikhekhe lako (name withheld)) emtshadweni? (How could she make us eat a cake from that store),” he says in the skit.

Seemingly a while after posting the skit, Keith wrote an apology to the retail store over the cake diss, which he said was all a ploy by himself to make an impact in the comedy scene.

“It was all a joke, it’s just comedy, I made that up. This is a comedy venture, trying to enlighten people’s moods, trying to give people a chuckle, especially Zimbabweans as they work hard. They deserve a little laugh after a long day. I mainly imitate Shona and Ndebele women, to try and give those abroad what Zimbabwe is all about,” he said.

Keith mentioned that he would be posting more skits on Facebook and that people should look out for more hilarious skits.

“There’s plenty to look forward to, particularly in Zimbabwe considering the digitilisation era that our country has entered. I have also been accepted into an acting agency in Joburg, so God willing this is just the humble start to my career. I have spent so much time around actors and actresses in Zimbabwe and here in South Africa. Taking someone’s character or getting into character isn’t a walk in the park. It requires the understanding of many things, soliloquy, emotions and the right atmosphere,” he said.

Keith added that he had started taking drama classes at a studio in South Africa.

“For a start I will appear as a supporting character to soapies or films but the importance of it all is learning,” he said.

Keith is no stranger in the showbiz industry, as he has had a stint with a South African reality TV show – Clean House Africa a few years ago.