BIOGRAPHY OF Andreya Thonyiwa – Mr Jokes

popularly known as Mr Jokes was born on April 21, 1984 at Thekerani Hospital in Thyolo District. He is last born in a family of 3 (two boys and a girl). Both his parents originally come from Thekerani.

While he was still young, he relocated to Blantyre where he stayed with his older brother, Collins. The relocation was due to poverty at home. Contrary, his socioeconomic situation became worse after he was evicted out of his brother’s house due to false accusations made by his brother’s wife. That made him start living alone.

Now, he started doing small businesses in Limbe and in the Blantyre streets to get himself basic needs and school materials. Some of the items he sold include sweets, roasted groundnuts, paraffin, radio batteries and cooking oil.

Mr Jokes attended his primary education at Misesa and Nasisi in Blantyre before being selected to Chichiri Secondary School.

Unfortunately, he dropped out few weeks before writing his MSCE.

”Few weeks before my MSCE exams, thieves came to my hut and stole every little thing I owned. Honestly, I was psychologically disturbed. As a result, I did not go to sit for exams. I had no support too,” he told Ufulu FM.

Currently, he holds JCE as his highest academic qualification.

Artistically, Jokes was naturally born humourous. He make jokes as one way of advertising his small businesses. He says even at school, he could get punished for making comic comments in class.

Jokes that he used to make when selling his items caught Steve Maseya’s attention and he introduced the young man to Phwete, a programme that was aired on MBC. That was the beginning of the change in the life of the ‘poor’ Thyolo Boy. Thereafter, he started shooting and releasing comedy videos that enjoyed good sales on the market.

Mr Jokes faced a big misfortune. He lost his teeth through a car accident that happened on 30th November 2008. The car hit him whilst he was riding on his bicycle.

”I was coming from prayers in Mpemba. I was fasting and I think hunger and tiredness made me not to concentrate much on the road. I was hit and the driver ran away. My bicycle was broken down beyond repair,” he narrates.

In addition to comedy, Mr Jokes is a director of ceremonies, advertiser and businessperson.

The 40-year-old comedian is married and blessed with kid/s.