The moniker "Ghetto Superstar" is one that has not only defined Tinashe Fortune's self belief but his ambition. Self given, it has been a marker for the dreams the comic has for himself, and he has been relentless in their pursuit. Certified Ghetto Superstar was set to be the comedian's graduation, one were a self given title becomes accepted and recognised by the public. The culmination of an 8 year journey in the comedy space.
This moment, however, arrived long before the comedian hit the Reps Theatre stage.
Forces of nature have often been recognised as one of the few entities that are undeniable, but a comedian trying to sell tickets might be a worthy addition to that list. As Certified Ghetto Superstar drew closer, Tinashe was a force to be reckoned with in creativity. With Neville Bird as his sidekick, he made far more than Reps Theatre's 450 capacity laugh as the duo turned headlines into hilarious content, all in the name of marketing.
It was in this marketing campaign that the Ghetto Superstar was "certified" and while it was only 500 of us who got to see his craft on stage at Reps, the country already knew how gifted a talent Tinashe was.
Announced to a rapturous welcome by Nigel Tha Slick Pastor, and making his entrance alongside Voltz JT with pyrotechnics in tow, the room celebrated him before he began, and he equally lived up to the moment. Snatching the mic from Voltz to sing "Ma War Vets," and then diving head long into hilarious reflections on our social fabric, Tinashe was poised as if this was just another day on stage.
We laughed at how he had wanted the chance to say no to Wicknell, the false ignorance when you have a torn note in your wallet, and the many stories he had to share about his family members in attendance. All through this "allegedly" was his defense for reflections about the "hot topics," and everything the crowd threw at him he gave back, with a few strays for entertainment entrepreneur Hatiperi.
The laughter echoed in the auditorium, right up until the end when Tinashe's poise finally broke. As he was handed the phone for a congratulatory video call from King Kandoro, the tears began to flow. Family joined him on stage and as his relatives expressed what he couldn't, Tinashe collected himself enough to state that we had become his family by extension.
The Ghetto Superstar had become one recognised by the masses, on a night when everyone rose to the occasion. Patricia's relatable juxtaposition of parental practices between generations had got the night going, then Mike's Migos themed arrival had brought irreverent humour, and Neville's intelligent use of music as a tool for comedy had perfectly set up the stage for Tinashe's storytelling.
In December of 2019, King Kandoro did what seemed to be the impossible at the time by becoming the first comedian to sell out Reps Theatre. A few years later the feat has now been replicated by Nigel Tha Slick Pastor, Tinaye, Learnmore Jonasi, and now Tinashe Fortune.
From an artform that was just trying to carve out its space, Zimbabwean comedy has become an industry changing lives. Certified just like the Ghetto Superstar.
Greedysouth rating: 7.6/10