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| Adili Constantino, popularly as @streetjournalisti on set ready for the content making of funny radio programs for his platform. (PHOTO: Courtesy) |
By Charles Mkoka
In Tanzania’s fast-evolving media landscape, few young storytellers have captured public attention as quickly and organically as Adili Constantino, the creative force behind the fast-growing social media persona @Streetjournalisti.
What began as a playful fusion of journalism and comedy has transformed into a distinctive digital brand, one that is now influencing both traditional broadcasting and Gen Z content culture.
Soft-spoken and thoughtful, Adili traces his love for radio back to his upbringing. Raised by a teacher who kept the radio on almost constantly, the young Constantino became fascinated not just by the voices but by the mystery behind them.
"I loved listening to the radio from the time I was a kid. In our village, we listened to it all the time, and I always wondered what happened inside the studio," he recalls with a quiet smile.
A year after graduating with a B.A. in Journalism and Public Relations from the University of Dodoma (UDom), Adili has already become a recognizable figure on Tanzanian social media timelines.
But the seeds of that presence were planted much earlier.
By his second year at university, the then-student had already attracted more than 60k followers, simply by posting light-hearted, practical, and humorous clips inspired by journalism.
"@Streetjournalisti is a movement," he says. “It started a while ago, and those early clips helped me visualize my dream. They also became a place to relax and escape the pressure of (then) university life.”
Today, the movement has grown far beyond his expectations.
His smart blend of comedic timing, newsroom mimicry, and authentic radio-style delivery has earned him hundreds of thousands of followers, with numbers rising daily.
The formula for that growth? Relentless commitment.
"Everything you see on my platforms, well, I created it myself," he explains. “I ask for help from friends when shooting, but the scripts and the core ideas are all mine,” he added.
His content taps into a unique curiosity: what really goes on behind the microphone? His short skits humanize the newsroom experience while keeping it entertaining, giving audiences a fresh connection to journalism at a time when trust in traditional media is shifting.
The attention hasn’t gone unnoticed.
"I get calls from respected journalists in and outside Tanzania," he says. “It motivates me. Honestly, I don't think I could ever leave journalism.”
When asked whether he sees himself more as a comedian than a journalist, he responds thoughtfully:
"I can do both, but I would never abandon journalism. Art is powerful, I admire celebrities before me, including Mpoki and Zembwela, and yet, journalism remains my core foundation."
And if an international broadcaster came knocking—say, Al Jazeera, DW, or BBC’s Dira ya Dunia?
(He laughs.) “I’d consider it. I’m a full journalist; I write, prepare stories, and I can present. If the opportunity is meaningful and beneficial, why not?”
Beyond the laughs and viral clips, Adili is intentional about the message he sends to Tanzania’s youth. He urges them to stay focused, avoid unnecessary distractions, and remain committed to meaningful pursuits.
"We young people must stop diving deep into things that don’t concern us,” he says. “Even in markets, they say you shouldn’t go carrying too much money, you might buy what you never planned to. It’s a lesson for all of us.”
Many young viewers now see him as a role model, a notion he embraces with humility.
"Doing what you love, even in small amounts, helps you move far faster than doing nothing at all,” he reflects. “Some people may never say it, but they’re watching. If my 10% belief inspires someone to believe 100%, then I want to work harder so that others can do even better.”
Since graduating in 2024, Adili has sharpened @Streetjournalisti into one of the most engaging Swahili-language entertainment and infotainment platforms, one that educates, informs, inspires, and entertains all at once.
And recently, as clips of his work went viral on mainstream channels, the media community has begun acknowledging what audiences already know: @Streetjournalisti is reshaping the way Tanzanians consume radio-style reporting by blending authenticity, creativity, and humor into a modern storytelling formula.