Comedian-cum-actor Steven Oduor Dede alias DJ Shiti has worked his way into becoming a household name in the Kenyan acting scene, however, speaking to Daniel 'Churchill' Ndambuki in a candid interview aired on July 5, he came clean on how a hilarious blunder on his part landed him his first acting role.
Having started out his career at Nakuru Players Theatre where he performed secondary School set books, plays and stand-up comedies, his big break came when his close friend and comedian Eddie Butita introduced him to Abel Mutua, as he explained.
"Butita really hyped me up, going as far as telling Abel that I was the real deal and after asking for a demo, I showed him my YouTube clips and just like that, he directed me to Henry Gachuna who was auditioning (for roles in The Real Househelps of Kawangware)," the comedian recounted.
On the day of the audition, Dj Shiti revealed that he was determined to land the role by any means necessary, which he eventually confessed was how he ended up leaving a hilarious mark on the show.
His inexperience in on-screen acting pushed him to adjust the director's script, which had clearly indicated that for a specific scene, he was supposed to eat a tomato as he engaged with a fellow actor.
Eager to show off his prowess, he started munching away at a raw onion.
"I did not know that unlike stand-up comedy, acting requires several takes. After several takes I was literally crying through my lines," he narrated in between fits of laughter in reference to the fact that he had to chew throw several onions.
As fate would have it, the actual challenge of maintaining a straight face and talking while eating an onion gave the scene the hilarious effect the director was looking for and Dj Shiti was handed his famous role in the comedy series.
The comedian was quick to thank all the people who had played a role in propelling him towards realizing his dream as a comedian.
He went on to advise upcoming artists to live within their means, emphasising that acting and comedy were careers like any others which involved relatable highs and the lows. Adding that there was extra pressure on media personalities from fans which if unchecked could lead to dire consequences such as depression.
The actor further stated that in any career, one should focus on the journey and find a way to enjoy it while working towards one's dream.
At the start of his career on the Churchill comedy show, Dj Shiti used to struggle just to find a place to rest. He once opened up on how ‘sisters’ known to do business within Koinange street gave him money and temporary accommodation, in between his auditions.
The comedian has endeared himself to fans across the the country due to his humility and humble beginnings. Uknown to most, Dj Shiti actually 'borrowed' his mother’s shirt for his first live performance on Churchill Show.
Watch Dj Shiti's Hilarious Story Below:
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