Veteran Vitimbi and Vioja Mahakamani Peter Sankale famously known as Olexander Josphat shares his expertise in the comedy industry including how decided to quit a banking job.
In an interview on Churchill Show, Sankale is mostly known for his humorous Maasai accent on TV, says his choices shocked many, including his parents and church elders.
“I left banking for comedy and that was a disaster on the home front, my mother was not happy,” he said.
“My mother told everybody ‘my son has left banking, a job that makes him don a tie and suit every day and going to do some fun things that I don’t understand on TV. Is making people laugh a job?’ Then the old men in my village, and in church, also asked me to explain myself. They thought I was losing it.”
“I have a history. I was named best actor in standard one during parents day. My gift on the day was an exercise book, a pencil and a rubber. When I finished college, an uncle connected me with a job as a teller at (the now-defunct) Panafric Bank.”
“One manager at the bank named Gitonga called me one time and said ‘Peter you are a very funny man. Have you ever acted? In fact, do you know any person in Vitimbi or Vioja Mahakamani?’ I said ‘yes, I watch them. I know (TV comedians) Ojwang, Masanduku’. He asked me to go and look for them, he told me ‘you have a talent that can be nurtured’.”
“I later met marehemu Masaku and he organised auditions for me with Vitimbi and Vioja Mahakamani (shows) in one place, the producers were very happy. I started at Vitimbi. I was mesmerised. They asked me ‘young man what can you do?’ I said I can bring a Maasai accent to the show. Someone asked ‘does it have a comedy?’ That was the beginning of a long journey.”
Veteran Sankale is reported to have commenced his journey in comedy with a Sh 10,000 monthly salary at Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) 30 years ago.
Post a Comment
What is your say on this