Online Reporter
Trust Khosa,
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
The creative sector is in mourning following the death of beloved comedian Fanuel Tonganayi, widely known for his role as Firimoni in the popular Gringo series.
He passed away yesterday at his rural home in Hurungwe after a short illness. He was 63. His neighbour and father-in-law, Alec Pomera, confirmed the death of the actor.
“It’s true that Firimoni, who made a name in the ZBC comedy series ‘Gringo’, is no more. He died in the morning (yesterday) after complaining of stomach pains. His tummy was swelling, but he never bothered to go to the hospital for treatment as he was procrastinating. He was cheerful as ever despite being in pain, and we were shocked when we learned about his death in the morning (yesterday), just after he had gone to check his beasts in the cattle pen,” stressed Pomera.
“I stayed with him for a year, and we never argued since he was indeed a nice person who was adored by the entire community. He never argued with people, but he always made us laugh.”
Firimoni had returned to his rural home after struggling to make ends meet in the capital, where he had established his acting career and was also hailed as a hard worker.
“At the time of his death, Firimoni was a peasant farmer back in the rural areas where he specialised in crops like maize and other small grains. He had his own herd of cattle that he looked after; we will miss him. To the rest of the Zimbabweans who wish to bid him farewell, they are free to come and celebrate with us here in Hurungwe.”
Fellow actor Taurai “Gringo Junior” Boora, whose late father, Lazarus “Gringo” Boora, worked alongside Firimoni, was equally shocked by the sad news of Firimoni’s death.
“I received this sad news from his relative in Hurungwe.
“He had been very ill for two days before he died. We struggled to get in touch with him since he did not have a cellphone,” Gringo Junior shared.
“As someone who worked with my father, I will always remember Firimoni for his significant contributions to the industry. He was a talented individual who truly enjoyed his roles, and we will surely miss him.
“I had hoped to collaborate with him before his passing, but it was often difficult to reach him. He was a kind person.”
Gringo Junior described Firimoni’s death as a profound loss to the creative sector.
“He was a good character who easily mastered the game of acting, and it is sad that we have lost him. We will always miss his talent and everything that he did on set, which inspired future generations.”
Despite portraying a clumsy character in the series, Firimoni was beloved by many.
He began his career as a driver for the cast before seamlessly transitioning into the role of Firimoni, which he executed with remarkable skill.
His passing underscores the struggles many talented individuals face, as some have tragically died in poverty despite achieving fame at their peak.
Before he became a household name, he once worked as a driver for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), where he ferried drama crews to their shooting locations. Although he was popular in earlier years, he died a poor man.
In the Gringo comedy series, he was a darling of many as he acted alongside the maid Madhumbe.
He played the character for over 13 years.
He was always given hilarious situations where he was tricked by Gringo, which made him popular with fans.
In the series, he acted alongside popular names including Memory Makuri (Madhumbe), Enock Chihombori (who played Toby), main actor Lazarus Boora (Gringo), Stembeni Makawa (Mai Gweshegweshe), Collin Dube (John Banda), William Matenga (Gweshegweshe), and Blessing Chimhowa (Mbudziyadhura).
He also shared his joy in one of the editions of The Herald as he transitioned from being a driver to becoming an actor.
“I drove everyone else in the cast, but I really enjoyed the time I had with these people when we were on set. It was real fun,” he was quoted as saying.
A decade ago, he was reported to have acquired a grinding mill after selling his tobacco.
His quest then was to start a small business after all the years of giving people laughter in the Gringo series.
Despite his fame, he never forsook his rural home in Hurungwe, where he breathed his last on Tuesday morning.
Firimoni will be buried today in Village 6 in Hurungwe.
He is survived by his widow, Constancia Mamina.
