Tiktok star Kenan Osyanju, popularly known as Khoja Afrique.
Kenan Osyanju, popularly known as Khoja Afrique, is the epitome of resilience and creativity.
From cleaning kitchens to viral fame and an online sensation on YouTube and TikTok.
His story inspires countless others to turn everyday moments into art and laughter.
1.Why the name Khoja Afrique?
The name “Khoja” was given to me by a co-worker back in 2018 when we were working in the kitchen of a club in Bungoma. He had this funny habit of mispronouncing words in both English and vernacular. Instead of saying “Khocha,” which means uncle or jomba in Bukusu, he called me “Khoja.” I found it amusing and decided to adopt it as my brand name. As for “Afrique,” it symbolises my pride in being African and representing my roots.
2.When did your content creation journey begin?
My journey began in 2019 when I had just gotten a job, cooking mandazi at a high school in Bungoma. One day, I cracked a joke about Luhya ladies while chatting with a co-worker, and it had everyone laughing. Later that day, I went home, recorded the joke, and shared it on my WhatsApp status. At the time, I didn’t have any social media platforms— no Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube—but that joke went viral on WhatsApp. It inspired me to create social media accounts and dive into content creation full-time.
3.Why did you choose this style of comedy?
Because it’s relatable and easy to execute, while still being creative. Plus, I genuinely enjoy the process of coming up with funny ideas and bringing them to life, even though it requires a lot of critical thinking to keep the content fresh and engaging.
4.Growing up, was this a path you ever thought of exploring?
Yes, even as a child, I had dreams of doing something extraordinary. I’ve always had the hunger to make people laugh and entertain, but I also feel that I’m just getting started. My goal is to grow my brand even bigger and become a household name not just in Kenya, but across Africa and beyond.
5.Why does Khoja often play the vulnerable boy?
The character is inspired by some of the people I grew up seeing in Lukhokhwe, a village in Bungoma County where I was born . It’s not that everyone there behaves that way, but I use exaggeration to create humour out of the small quirks and mannerisms of people I observed in my community.
6.What does your family think about your style of comedy?
My family has been incredibly supportive, although everyone expresses it in their own way. My mum is very proud of me and never misses a chance to tell me so. My elder sister, Tayvine is my number one fan, while my sister, Mevis always reminds me to stay grounded and humble. My sister, Iyvine keeps me in her prayers, which I deeply appreciate. As for my elder brother, Kevin, we don’t really discuss comedy—we’re more likely to argue about football! My son, being young, doesn’t yet understand that I’m a comedian, but his mother is a huge fan of my work and supports me through her prayers.
7. How has comedy changed your life?
Comedy has brought me a lot of peace of mind, because I can now provide for myself and my family. It’s incredibly fulfilling to know that my work puts food on the table while also making people laugh.
8. What made you realise you were finally living your dream?
Honestly, I’ve made moves but I don’t feel like my brand has fully grown yet. While I’ve made progress, I still believe there’s so much more to achieve. I want to push myself harder and take my craft to the next level.
9. Is the Khoja we see in skits the same as Kenan in real life?
Not at all! Kenan is a very quiet and reserved person. I usually only open up to people I know well. However, I do enjoy joking around and making others laugh, so there’s a bit of overlap.
10. Do you get judged for some of the roles you take?
Yes, especially when I play female roles, which can sometimes draw criticism. But I’ve learned not to take it to heart, because I know who I am and what I stand for.
11.How do you handle trolling?
Not necessarily being trolled, but being bullied online because of cross-dressing. I had to personalise a female character and got some few bullies. However, I did not react. I’ve found that the best approach is to leave it to my fans. They’re always ready to defend me, and their support means the world to me.
12.Are you living off your content?
Yes, I’m fully living off my content. I dropped everything else I was doing, because it was quite strenuous. I concentrated on content creation and right now I am the brand ambassador for various companies like Salama Western Toast, Bet Nare and Ajab Flour. As for YouTube, on a good month, I earn between sh50,000 to sh80,000.
13. What challenges have you faced so far?
The biggest challenge is running out of ideas. There are times when no matter how hard I think, I can’t come up with anything new, and some of my content flops. It’s frustrating, but I always push through.
14. Do you work alone, or do you have a team managing your content?
I don’t have a content manager, but I do have a fantastic team of collaborators, including Pauline Pretty, Daddy J Show, Rapdon, Jonao, and Boizy.
15. How do you compensate your crew? Are they on payroll?
We have cultivated a strong working relationship rooted in trust and mutual respect. Our bond goes beyond the workplace, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose that positively impacts the well-being and morale of the team. Unfortunately, I’m not yet in a position to pay them, but we’ve agreed to help each other grow in different ways.
16. Should we expect events from you?
I like to keep my plans a surprise for my fans, so you’ll have to wait and see!
17. How do you convert your social media numbers into money?
I monetise my platforms by working with brands that approach me. As long as the pay is good and the partnership aligns with my values, I’m happy to collaborate.
