Great Zimbabweans...
Paraffin Comedian and actor.
Born Phillip Gadzikwa Mushangwe, Paraffin was a popular Zimbabwean comedian who rose to prominence in the early 1990s with the drama series 'Paraffin' that made him a household name.
He was a talented actor and probably the best to emerge in the post Safirio “Mukadota” Madzikatire era. His antics were hilarious, the way he walked left many in stitches, even the way he talked was in a class of its own. Simply put, he was a special gem extracted from Mabvuku by television producer Agnes Gwatiringa.
Before venturing into a distinguished acting career, Mushangwe worked for Cresta Lodge as an accounts clerk and also for Greatermans department store as a salesman. Paraffin was a talented actor who gained notoriety with his jaw-breaking humour. In the 'Paraffin' series, he acted as an illiterate individual and inconsiderate individual with no other purpose in life but to feed his stomach. Also known as 'Baba vaSorobhi', Paraffin's combination with Rhoda Mtembi (Mai Sorobhi) was so perfect that many people thought that the two were married in real life.
Paraffin died at the peak of his career on the 29th of June 1997. So talented was Paraffin that on many occasions he would go off script but would not change the essence of the message being put across by the producers of the local comedy drama. In the drama, Paraffin played the role of an individual who would do or say just about anything with no regard for the potential damage or consequences of his actions. Paraffin was loved by all young and old and very often you would hear people quote him on occasions during conversations.
Phillip Gadzikwa Mushangwe died on the 29th of June 1997 after a short illness. He remains one of the most celebrated icons of Zimbabwe's film industry whose brilliance is only rivalled by a few individuals such as Mukadota and Mutirowafanza.
Forever Remembered!
Popular quotes from Paraffin include:
“Ko nhai nurse,ndokumbirawo mejensi.”
“Ndamboti ndakaenda ku University here ini? Inongori scop medula blangata yangu inongori sharp!”
“Makutoita clinic ino kaempire kenyu kehukamalism . . .”
Credits: Herald News Paper, Youtube, Youthvillage.co.zw and Pindula