Media personality Thulasizwe Dambuza, popularly known as Lasizwe, has hit a major milestone in his career. The YouTuber, comedian, and reality TV star has earned his first SAFTA nomination for Best Online Creator, thanks to his popular show Awkward Dates. Sitting down with Sowetan Live, Lasizwe opened up about how the recognition marks a turning point in his journey as a creator.
“I’m speechless. I don’t know how to react,” Lasizwe said. “For the longest time, people didn’t take YouTube as a serious platform. When I’d tell people that I’m a YouTuber, they would laugh and look at me as if I was crazy; look where I am today.”
Awkward Dates, which features Lasizwe on casual yet revealing dates with celebrities, has become a hit for its fun yet intimate look into the lives of public figures. The show has attracted A-listers such as Toss, Mpho Popps, Linda Mtoba, and Mihlali Ndamase. Now, with the SAFTA nomination, Lasizwe feels he’s earned his place at the table alongside industry veterans.
“Being nominated for a SAFTA for Best Online Creator means that I’m playing with the big boys. It means I get to sit with Angus Gibson and sit in rooms with big-time producers where we’d be able to speak about how to create a show,” he explained. “This nomination is also opening the door for young creators to see that they too can be taken seriously and deserve their seat at the table.”
Despite the recognition, Lasizwe reflected on his struggles to find his creative identity. For years, he wrestled with how to define himself in a space that often boxes creators into categories.
“For the longest time, I had an identity crisis. I didn’t know whether to call myself a vlogger, a celebrity, or a comedian. At the time I didn’t know better, I would box myself according to how I am seen by the public,” he shared. “Despite all of that, I still pushed with making content, and that’s how Awkward Dates was born.”
The show, which emerged during a difficult period in Lasizwe’s life, helped him channel his creativity. “It was birthed during a time when I got super depressed. I thought to myself, how else can I diversify my offerings and skills? I then came up with the idea of going on dates with our celebrities and finding out who they truly are behind the façade of fame.”
Looking forward, Lasizwe is excited to see how the show will evolve. While he’s committed to keeping Awkward Dates on YouTube, he’s open to exploring other platforms if the opportunity arises. “I don’t plan to sell or take the show on other streaming platforms besides YouTube. However, if I find myself in a position where my show gets to be elevated then I don’t mind moving to platforms such as Netflix or Disney.”
One of the standout moments from the show has been the inclusion of his brother Lungile Mcunu, who went on dates with members of the LGBTQI+ community. Lasizwe shared how this experience has sparked meaningful conversations, even among unexpected audiences.
“One thing people don’t know is that Lungile is a taxi boss, and he gets to mingle with other taxi drivers. They have watched his episodes and most of them tell him how enlightening it was seeing him [Lungile] have a chat with a gay person and still have a good time. They tell him how ‘these people are just normal people who choose to live their lives differently’… to me, this is what matters. Making a change and an impact and turning around stigmas.”
From becoming the first African to have a reality show on MTV Base with Lasizwe: Fake It Till You Make It, to now earning a SAFTA nomination, Lasizwe’s career has continued to break barriers. With Awkward Dates,he’s not just creating content—he’s making a lasting impact.
