Ba Matero
| Born | April 2, 2000 Matero, Lusaka, Zambia |
|---|---|
| Nationality | |
| Occupation | Comedian, Boxer |
| Years active | 2021–present |
| Known for | Unique miming comedy on suburban life |
| Notable work | Comedy skits on social media |
| Awards | |
| Children | 1 |
Ba Matero (born Francis Nundwe on April 2, 2000) is a Zambian comedian known for his distinctive style of comedy that involves mimicking and acting out everyday suburban scenarios, especially petty thieving in Lusaka suburbs like Matero. His skits often feature an accompanying song, Nalitumpa Ine by 4 na 5 featuring Slap Dee, which has contributed to his unique appeal.
Early life and education
Francis Nundwe was born and raised in Matero, Lusaka. He attended primary school in Matero, continued to New Matero Secondary School for grades 10 and 11, and completed grade 12 at Libala Secondary School in 2019. He is the fourth child of Bishop John General, a well-known Lusaka preacher.
Career
Ba Matero's interest in comedy dates back to his school days but only gained significant traction after posting comedy skits on social media over the course of four months, leading to a rapid rise in popularity with thousands of followers.
His comedy style is non-verbal and heavily inspired by British comedian Rowan Atkinson, best known as Mr. Bean, focusing on physical expressions rather than stand-up or musical performances common in Zambia. Ba Matero jokingly refers to his character as coming from "Matero University of Thieving," playfully highlighting his focus on petty theft themes in his comedy.
Apart from comedy, Ba Matero is also an accomplished boxer. He won a gold medal representing the national team through Exodus Boxing Academy and is known in boxing circles as "Kappa." He manages his father's media team at Healing Center Television when not producing comedy content.
Personal life
Initially, his father was opposed to his comedic career due to its nature and some legal troubles Ba Matero encountered. However, Bishop John General is now one of his biggest supporters. Ba Matero is married and has one child.
Philosophy and impact
Ba Matero emphasizes that his comedy is meant to entertain and educate. Though some critics accuse him of encouraging theft, he maintains that his work promotes responsibility, awareness, and carefulness in public behavior. He sees himself as competing only with himself and aspires to meet his inspiration, Mr. Bean.
