Charles Bukeko
Kenyan actor and comedian (1962–2020)

Charles Bukeko
Born(1962-07-10)10 July 1962
Busia, Kenya
Died18 July 2020(2020-07-18) (aged 58)
Nairobi, Kenya
Resting placeFunyula Constituency, Busia
Other namesPapa
Alma materUniversity of Nairobi
Occupations
  • Actor
  • Comedian
Known forPapa Shirandula
SpouseBeatrice Ebbie Andega
Children3

Charles Bukeko (10 July 1962 – 18 July 2020) was a Kenyan actor and comedian.[1][2][3][4] He was known for portraying the titular character in the Citizen TV comedy series Papa Shirandula, which he also created. He won the 2010 Kalasha Award for Best Actor in a TV Series for the role.[5] Bukeko also appeared in the 2012 film The Captain of Nakara.[6][7] He died on 18 July 2020, from what seemed like COVID-19 symptoms.[8] All of his comedy programmes were dominantly aired by the Kenyan Citizen Television, and none of his fans, both children and adults rarely missed an episode.[9][10]

Early life and education

Bukeko was the firstborn of four children to parents Valeria Makokha and Cosmas Wafula.[5][11] He was born in Busia, Kenya.[12] He attended Jogoo Road Primary School and proceeded to Upper Hill Secondary in Nairobi, where he earned his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).[5][12]

Career

Charles Bukeko played Otieno in the 2005 film, Project Daddy and working as a production runner on The Constant Gardener ithe same year. Back in Kenya he portrayed Matata in the TV drama Makutano Junction from 2006 to 2008. While still featuring in Makutano Junction he took a lead role as Papa in the hit comedy series, Papa Shirandula which aired on Citizen TV that ran from 2006 until 2020.[13] In 2007, he played Wanyonyi in a film feature, Malooned.[14] The Captain of Nakara where he played General Lumumba was his last appearance on a feature film in 2012.[15]

He has also appeared in TV commercials. In 2001 He did an international commercial for Coca-Cola in Indonesia.[16][17] For Vodacom in South Africa, he did his first concept in 2008 and the second one on 15 September 2010.[18] He has a commercial deal with Multichoice for GoTv adverts.[19]

Personal life

Bukeko was married to Beatrice Ebbie Andega and they had three children: Tony, Charlie and Wendy.[12][20][21][22] Bukeko had diabetes.[23] He died at the Karen Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, on 18 July 2020, after contracting COVID-19 during the pandemic.[23] He was 58.[24]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Project Daddy Otieno Cast
2005 The Constant Gardener Production runner
2006 Makutano Junction Cast
2007–2020 Papa Shirandula Papa Cast
2007 Malooned Wanyonyi Cast
2012 The Captain of Nakara General Lumumba Cast

References

  1. ^ Omondi, Ferdinand (20 July 2020). "Papa Shirandula: Much-loved Kenyan comedian buried". BBC News. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  2. ^ Baranga, Samson (21 January 2014). "Bebe Cool, Flavia and Seanice eat big". The Observer (Uganda). Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  3. ^ "Forget the stock market, Kenya's millionaires are entertainers". Daily Nation. 11 April 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  4. ^ "'Brrr' advert star eyes South Africa movie industry". Business Daily Africa. 3 July 2009. Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  5. ^ a b c Kasami, Dickens (2016). "Quick Facts You Need To Know About Papa Shirandula". Tuko. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  6. ^ Mugendi, Eric (23 May 2014). "Africa at the European film festival". The EastAfrican. Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  7. ^ "Hilarious Local Comedy to Open the Kenya International Film Festival". Ghafla!. 5 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  8. ^ "Papa Shirandula: Much-loved Kenyan comedian buried". 20 July 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  9. ^ Wako, Amino (18 July 2020). "Papa Shirandula is dead". Daily Nation. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  10. ^ Wanga, Justus (18 July 2020). "TV star 'Papa Shirandula' dies in Nairobi". Daily Nation. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  11. ^ Standard Entertainment (18 July 2020). "Popular TV actor Charles Bukeko alias Papa Shirandula dead – family". The Standard (Kenya). Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  12. ^ a b c Nyanga, Caroline (13 June 2015). "'It all began with one line', Papa Shirandula". The Standard (Kenya). Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  13. ^ "Citizen TV Reveals Future of Papa Shirandula Show". www.kenyans.co.ke. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  14. ^ "New Film Brews Romance in a Nairobi Skyscraper Toilet". ArtMatters.Info. 22 September 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  15. ^ "'The Captain of Nakara' to premiere at KIFF". The New Times. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  16. ^ "'Brrr' advert star eyes South Africa movie industry". www.businessdailyafrica.com. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  17. ^ "Coca Cola Advert Stereotypes and Demeans Africa". ArtMatters.Info. 4 February 2009. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  18. ^ "Theatre's big man taking the world by storm". The Standard. 7 December 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  19. ^ Nyanga, Caroline. "'It all began with one line'". Evewoman Magazine. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  20. ^ Kimuyu, Hilary (18 February 2018). "ACTSCENE:Papa Shirandula: Blame my wife for my weight". Daily Nation. Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  21. ^ Mwarua, Douglas (2018). "Papa Shirandula blames his wife for his huge body". Tuko. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  22. ^ "Papa Shirandula: My wife is trying to keep me out of the market". Ghafla!. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  23. ^ a b Capital Reporter (18 July 2020). "Popular TV Actor Papa Shirandula Is Dead". 98.4 Capital FM. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  24. ^ Standard Entertainment (18 July 2020). "Charles Bukeko dead at 58: Outpouring of grief for Papa Shirandula actor". The Standard (Kenya). Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  • Charles Bukeko at IMDb
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