Culture clashes in Western Mass inspire STCC grad’s animated comedy series
STCC graduate Zulfiqar Manzi holds a poster promoting his comedy web series titled "The Matumbila's."
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – When he dreams up story lines for his animated comedy series, Zulfiqar “Zul” Manzi draws from his own experiences growing up with immigrant parents in Western Massachusetts.
Manzi’s parents moved to Springfield from Tanzania in East Africa in the early 1990s, a few years before he was born. Manzi was exposed to Tanzanian traditions at home, but absorbed American pop culture while hanging out with his friends. As a sophomore in high school, he performed standup comedy in a talent show for the first time.
“Once I told my first joke about Miley Cyrus, I said, ‘This is going to be my future,’” he said.
Manzi would go on to perform in comedy clubs in Connecticut and Manhattan. Today, the 23-year-old Springfield Technical Community College graduate is focused on the animated comedy series he created for the internet called “The Matumbila’s,” which is loosely based on his own family. The series is available on KweliTV, a video network that features stories by Black writers and content producers from around the world, including independent films, documentaries, web series, kids programming and more.
“The Matumbila’s” centers around a middle-class Tanzanian family living in Massachusetts. The series explores culture clashes between the immigrated parents and their first-generation American children. In the show, the youngest child is named Zulfiqar, Manzi’s given name. Manzi voices the dad in the show and Zulfiqar, a character who is based loosely on himself. He includes jokes from his standup comedy in the series and memories from his childhood.
“I was born among other Tanzanians in Springfield. A lot of the ‘Matumbila’s’ material stemmed from my relationship with my family – my immediate and extended family, but also my Tanzanian community that I was born into.”
Manzi went to Longmeadow High School while living in Springfield. He joked that he thought he’d be getting away from Tanzanian culture when he went to high school, but he ended up playing basketball on a team coached by a Tanzanian.
Friends of mine I knew who I graduated with were able to get great jobs working in the news industry, for instance, because of their experience in the digital media program at STCC.Zulfiqar Manzi, STCC graduate, Class of '18
“Even when I try to get out of it (the Tanzanian culture), I can never leave,” Manzi said with a laugh.
Like Manzi himself, the children on the web series are not as adapted to Tanzanian culture as their parents. Manzi gives the children American attitudes that puzzle or even upset their parents.
“Whatever they do is pretty much taboo to the parents; whatever the parents do is taboo to the kids,” Manzi said.
Manzi added, “I wanted to produce a series that shows an average family. I wanted to show a normal Black family, a normal African family, doing normal things. But it’s satirical, based on their location.”
Manzi applies lessons from STCC to create web series
Manzi writes, edits, illustrates and animates the episodes and applies techniques he learned while studying digital media production at STCC. He earned his associate degree in 2018.
“I learned terminology, depth of fields, angles and how to compose certain shots at STCC,” Manzi said. “I never used Adobe software before entering STCC, so that’s where I learned Photoshop.
Zulfiqar Manzi says he applies lessons he learned at STCC to his professional work.
At STCC, Manzi took a film analysis class, which helped him think differently about movies and producing storylines. “I never thought I was going to watch an Alfred Hitchcock movie, but at STCC I did. It definitely helped with my script writing process,” he said.
Going to STCC also helped Manzi meet people who shared his interests and passions. “The Matumbila’s” includes voiceover work by STCC alumni Samadhi Hernandez and Chris Yates.
Manzi said the STCC Digital Media Production program opens doors to a variety of careers.
“Friends of mine I knew who I graduated with were able to get great jobs working in the news industry, for instance, because of their experience in the digital media program at STCC,” he said.
While studying at STCC, Manzi worked at FOCUS Springfield, the community access television station. He was satisfied knowing he made the choice to go to STCC instead of a more expensive university or four-year college.
Stephen N. Cary, station manager and executive producer at FOCUS, remembers first meeting Manzi when he worked as a 15-year-old intern.
“It took only a minute to realize he was funny and smart,” Cary said. “As he began working with us covering government meetings, talk shows, sports and live music, it quickly became obvious Zulfiqar was also an incredibly hard worker. We watched him as he worked for us while completing STCC’s Digital Media program and finding full-time employment in production – not an easy task.”
Cary said “The Matumbila’s” reveals that Manzi is smart, funny and hardworking. “This young man is also a professional producer to watch closely in the years to come,” he added.
Going to STCC ‘made perfect sense’
“I worked at FOCUS, which was a 10 or 15 minute walk from STCC, and saved a tremendous amount of money,” Manzi said. “I was able to invest in my equipment. If I went to a four-year school, I wouldn’t have the time to go to FOCUS, where I could continue to enhance my skills and generate a little bit of income.”
Manzi also did videography work at the nearby Hampden District Attorney’s office.
“It made perfect sense to go to STCC,” he said. “It’s tremendously cheaper and everything was around me.”
John Wakelin, chair of Digital Media Production at STCC, remembers Manzi as “a student with a fantastic imagination, a strong will to learn and a wonderful sense of humor.
“Early on he showed interest in developing his own digital film productions which included animation,” Wakelin said. “Being part of our digital media program offered him numerous opportunities to explore creating his own productions. Courses offered in the program include digital filmmaking, editing and both 2D and 3D animation.”
Wakelin said the associate degree options in TV production or interactive media and animation offer opportunities for students interested in producing their own films or animations.
“If they are interested in transferring to a Massachusetts university to complete their bachelor's degree they will want to check out the Communication and Digital Media Transfer Degree,” Wakelin added.
Interested in applying to STCC? The spring semester starts Jan. 25. Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.
For information about how to watch episodes of “The Matumbila’s,” visit kweli.tv/programs/the-matumbilas.
To see an interview where Manzi speaks about his STCC experience, visit STCC's YouTube channel.
About Springfield Technical Community College
STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequalled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu