Esteri uses satirical sketches to drive the message home
In the wake of the coronavirus, through one of her comic characters, Muna-U (urban slang to mean, a Ugandan), the loveable Esteri uses satire to echo messages.
In the Disney movie Queen of Katwe, she plays wife to British-Nigerian actor, David Oyelewo. That is where many would have recognized the name Esteri Tebandeke. Outside of acting though, the actress takes on many other creative roles; a comic, a designer, a dancer and a chef. Yes, that and more, will define Esteri’s time. In the wake of the coronavirus, through one of her comic characters, Muna-U (urban slang to mean, a Ugandan), the loveable Esteri uses satire to echo messages.
Asked why she uses satire, she said, “I use satire because I want to be free to say anything I want without being judged!” She explains a little more: “I also chose satire because it’s easier to deliver the message that way; people take information directly aimed at them better when packaged in a different way.” Esteri decided to call her character Muna-U because she believes what he says resonates with many Ugandans. “It’s the things I have heard and seen people do; the people who love Muna-U relate to him from that place,” she says.
While creating the character, it was important for her that the message and not the character be seen. “Muna-U is a man of average looks; he has a potbelly, he is bolding, he is not ‘eye candy’,” she explains. In making him less appealing, she has been able to communicate without worrying about the message getting drowned by his looks.
For a few months now, Muna-U has found ways to tell people to stay home, without sounding too official. For example, in one of the episodes, Muna-U is at the immigration desk. When the officer asks for his nationality, he responds, “Sitting room!” During the Easter holiday, a sad Muna-U said, “Now I would be in the village distributing my ka hard earned money.” In the end though, he advises everyone to stay home.
To capture the general sentiments and or anxiety that came with a possibility of lifting the lockdown, Muna-U joked, “Now people are ironing their car engines- Kiro mo!”
During the lockdown, Ugandans also learnt that their members of Parliament had each received 20million shillings, a thing that angered many. Almost instantly, Muna-U is seen telling his member of parliament to call his 20million shillings to vote for him.
By Civsource Africa Team
