SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Zulfiqar “Zul” Manzi ’18 applies lessons he learned at Springfield Technical Community College, and a love for comedy, to create his animated series, “The Matumbilas.”
The series is based on his own experiences growing up in a Tanzanian family in Western Massachusetts. It has become a hit on KweliTV, a Black-owned streaming service that celebrates Black global stories and amplifies Black creators like Manzi. The word kweli means “truth” in Swahili. (Find out more, including a trailer for the show, at kweli.tv/show/thematumbilas).
While studying at STCC, Manzi created videos at FOCUS Springfield, the community access television station and as well as for the district attorney’s office. He also performed standup comedy at clubs in Western Massachusetts and in New York.
His “The Matumbilas” creation centers around a middle-class Tanzanian family living in Massachusetts. The series explores cultural clashes between the immigrated parents and their first-generation American children.
Manzi remembers the excitement of getting a licensing agreement and streaming deal. “Once everything was cleared, the show quickly jumped to the top 10 most watched list (on kweliTV),” he said.
The series became the Number One most watched series on the streaming service. Its second season started streaming in the fall of 2023. He received a budget from kweliTV and receives royalties based on the number of minutes each episode is watched.
Manzi, 26, lives in Westchester County, N.Y. Upon completing a screening of “The Matumbilas” at Drexel University in Philadelphia, he returned to the Springfield area during Black History Month this February to show screenings of “The Matumbilas.” He screened his series for students at Westfield State University on Feb. 1. The theme of the speaking engagement was “How Communities Shape Our Stories.”
A week earlier he presented a screening at Drexel University in Philadelphia.
“I’m speaking to students about how our stories are heavily influenced by how we grew up,” he said. “The aesthetics of ‘The Matumbilas’ heavily resemble the aesthetics of Western Mass, where I grew up.
“We’re going to different universities, middle schools, high schools and libraries,” he added. “We’re doing screenings and speaking engagements. Since kweliTV is a grass roots organization, I feel like the best way to promote ‘The Matumbilas’ is through a grass roots approach.”
He also spoke about his series on “The Fabulous 413,” NEPM’s afternoon radio show that celebrates life in Western Massachusetts.
Manzi said he’s grateful for his education at STCC. He graduated in 2018 with a degree in Digital Media Production Technology.
“The classes at STCC helped me with terminology about technical aspects of filmmaking. I learned how to use Adobe (software) after taking a Photoshop class,” he said. “STCC also helped with networking as well. It helped with building a community.”
He also noted that one of the actors on his series went to STCC.
In a 2021 stcc.edu article about Manzi, John Wakelin, chair of Digital Media Production at STCC, described him 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.”
Watch a video of Zul Manzi discussing STCC and his animated series.
Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.
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 unequaled 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.
