Churchill Takes CNN To His Rural home

2014 is turning out to be an exciting year for Kenya’s ‘king of comedy’, Daniel ‘Churchill’ Ndambuki, who takes to the international stage this Friday on CNN International’s ‘African Voices’.

Daniel Ndambuki, popularly known as ‘Churchill’, explains to CNN how he got his stage name, and introduces viewers to his rural school, explaining why he played ‘the devil’ in his first acting role.

“Welcome to Mumbuni Secondary School… this is where we started acting… I was never the main actor by the way, I was always supporting…I don’t know if it’s because they could not see me because of my colour. So the biggest part I was given was the devil that is the role I played…,” Churchill explains.

At the very start of his career, Daniel was seen performing by Wahome Mutahi, the beloved Kenyan humourist- who wrote the ‘Whispers’ column on Sunday Nation. Mutahi gave Ndambuki the stage name Churchill, which was in line with his style of nicknaming artists after famous world leaders.

“My first joke…they switched off the mic. It was so boring to even myself…they relegated me to face painting, so I ended up face painting and making jokes to the kids and at some point I had to pinch them because the parents were watching. ‘If you don’t laugh, look at me with a smile if you don’t laugh’… it was crazy,” he explains.

He reveals to ‘African Voices’ that American actor and comedian, Steve  Harvey, is his role model and explains that the Churchill academy is aiming to produce a Chris Rock or a Steve Harvey in the next five years.

Daniel discovered a special place not far from his childhood home, The Machakos People’s Park, where he goes to unwind. “What amazes me about this place… we used to come and hunt rabbits, there were so many snakes around here. Now, it’s a whole different place. It is so relaxing especially after all those noises, in Nairobi, big city, you want somewhere where you can have a meeting with yourself,” he says.

Daniel ‘Churchill’ Ndambuki’s story will air on CNN International’s ‘African Voices’ on Friday, 22 August at 1030; with repeat broadcasting on the following days:

Saturday          1730

Sunday   0530, 1100 and 2030

Monday           1230 and 1730

Tuesday           0730

Tune in to CNN on DStv Channel 401.