BY BAMUTURAKI MUSINGUZI
SALVADO’S fans who turned up in a big number
at his one man comedy show returned
home with painful ribs after laughing their heads off at his funniest one-liners
and jokes.
Salvado whose real name is Patrick Idringi
and one of Uganda's best known comedians put up a hilarious first ever one man comedy
show in Uganda dubbed “Man from Ombokolo”
held at the Victoria Hall, Kampala Serena Hotel on June 2, 2015.
The fact that Idringi’s show was sell out is
proof that Ugandan comedy has matured to a level that the top echelon of
society can now pay to watch a one-man show.
Comedy has also moved away from the
infightings and break-ups that characterised the industry a few years back. It
can now compete with other forms of entertainment like live music and theatre
with equal measure.
As to the state of comedy in Uganda, Idringi
observes: “Comedy is growing in Uganda. We haven’t yet exploited the full
potential of comedy because we still lack professionalism in the industry as a
whole. But we are getting there. The signs are that we are on the right track.”
On his part, fellow comedian Kenneth Kimuli,
alias Pablo notes: “Comedy in Uganda is finally being accepted as an
alternative form of entertainment especially in the corporate world. The task
ahead is for the comedians to choose their words carefully, think about what
they really want to say, make it as funny as they possibly can and they'll go
places.”
Idringi’s cracking skits made up of old and
new material tackled issues such as tribalism, alcoholism and drink driving, characteristics
of his kinsmen in in his maternal ancestral home in Ombokolo in West Nile,
toilet jokes, and a heavy dose of sexual innuendos.
In one skit he jokes about the national tax
body employing only people from western Uganda in the juicy white collar section
while those from northern Uganda are night watchmen or security men running
after tax evaders.
In another he takes on people who go on farting
in lifts unconvincing other users.
He does not spare the Indians who are known
for haggling over everything will not stop at paying half the price for a
pencil as longer as the rubber is removed.
He joked that he is accused of telling half-truths
from Ombokolo and then exaggerating them for his selfish ends.
Although he is a master of suspense, Idringi’s
short coming was that he would start a joke, skip it to another and maybe
return to an earlier one – leaving his fans confused.
Idringi was accompanied by the Ombokolo Boys,
Myko Ouma, Lydia Jazmine, Janzi Band and Bebe Cool with his Gagamel band.
He says that he decided to dub the show “Man
from Ombokolo” as a way of introducing himself to his fans through his home
roots. “Because it was the first of its kind I needed to introduce myself to
the people. There is no better way to introduce yourself than to talk about
where you come from. Ombokolo is the place where my mother comes from in West
Nile.”
As to the sex innuendos Idringi he said that
was the day’s lineup. “My show wasn’t made up of only sex jokes. It just
happens that the funniest jokes were about sex and these are the ones people
remember the most.”
A telecommunications engineer by training Idringi,
who is also an actor, is co-founder and director of The Crackers – one of the
leading a stand-up comedy outfits that has weekly shows at Laftaz Comedy Lounge
in Centenary Park in Kampala.
Idringi left MTN Uganda in 2011 where he had worked
as a switch engineer to tap into and concentrate on his passion for comedy
which he had realized in 2009 after coming second in the M-NET reality TV
series dubbed “Standup Uganda.” He realized he could eke a living out of his
funnyman personality.
Idringi’s decision to quit his engineering job
has paid off because he has become one of the most sought after comedians and emcees
to perform at major shows and events in and outside Uganda, he is also the face
and voice of many multinational companies used in their print and broadcast
advertisement.
Idringi does not regret abandoning an
engineering career for comedy. “I don’t regret all because what I have achieved
with comedy I would not have achieved eve half if I was still doing
engineering.”
“I went into comedy because I love to be challenged.
One thing with comedy is that you have to come up with new comedy nearly every
day. That kind of challenge is what intrigues me,” Idringi said.
Idringi says his form of comedy is about him
observing a situation, relating to it and finally narrating it.
Kimuli, describes Idringi as quite quirky and
original. “He thinks of things that are funny and strange yet real life
experiences. Some people might misinterpret it as a warped sense of humour but
he makes you laugh at things that many people are afraid of or offended by.”
Milena Veselinovic describes Idringi's type
of comedy as “a blend of laugh-out-loud humour and cheeky charm” which even landed him inside the pages of the
Vogue magazine edition of May - June
2012.
“I am not beautiful, I am not glamorous, but
I can tell a story and this makes me attractive.” He, who brings emotions to
his audience, wants to create a legacy for his country. “I don’t want to
be rich or famous; I just hope to inspire many others,” he told Vogue magazine.
Idringi attributes his success to his
openness to talk about subjects such, love and sex. “Sex is not a taboo. Sex is
something everybody does except that they don’t have the courage to talk about
it openly. That is why the jokes are funny because they relate to them.”
“We're not very good at talking openly and
honestly about sex in this country and certainly the presence of laughter
is a useful tool to start an interesting, and maybe even helpful conversation
about our greatest taboos as long as it's within the limits,” Kimuli notes.
Idringi was born on February 14, 1985 to
Lawrence and Joyce Dawa in Mulago Hospital in Kampala.
In March 2013, Idringi’s girlfriend Daphne
Frankstock gave birth to their first baby girl named Abigail Idirigi.
Idringi loves people, soccer, playing pool,
music, movies and he hates being hated…
Ends.
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