The comedian Munya Chawawa has made a name for himself by using satire to comment on contemporary issues, particularly in the digital age. Even if his name is unfamiliar to you, it’s likely that you’ve encountered his humorous sketches on social media. Chawawa is known for taking well-known songs and transforming them into political parodies. His rise to fame occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he garnered attention for lampooning the health secretary over his scandalous affair, ridiculing the prime minister for breaching lockdown regulations, and highlighting the absurdities of life under restrictions.

Since that initial burst of popularity, Chawawa has accumulated over a billion views online, participated in shows like Celebrity Bake Off and Taskmaster, and produced documentaries focusing on figures such as Kim Jong-un and Robert Mugabe. Throughout this journey, he has reinvented the age-old craft of political satire, adapting it for a contemporary audience.

As the news cycle accelerates and becomes increasingly grim, Chawawa shares with Nosheen Iqbal his approach to extracting humor from the escalating political turmoil. He discusses the challenges and opportunities that arise when attempting to find comedy in a world that often feels chaotic and dark.