Patrick Idringi aka Salvador from Uganda is Africa’s funniest man!
Salvador has made it to the semi-final stage of the “Funniest Person in the World,” a competition run by Hollywood comedy club The Laugh Factory and carries a $100,000 grand prize—around 350 million Ugandan shillings—as well as a stand-up tour across the U.S.
He is the only candidate from the continent to make it to the semi-final of the competition. The other African countries in the competition – Kenya, Malawi, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan and Tunisia – were all eliminated in round one.
Salvador was among the 89 comics from 56 countries across the globe that had been nominated for the tittle in round one.
“For all your support and burning your MBS to make this Ombokolo man go through to the top 20 finalists of the Funniest Person in the World competition”.
The comedian said he will be travelling to Helsinki, Finland for the next level of competitions.
“I say thank you with a big heart… will be traveling to Helsinki for the second round in December,” said Salvador.
A former telecoms engineer, Idringi says he turned to comedy after a 2009 reality television competition to find Uganda’s funniest person. He won second place, and became a regular on the stand-up scene. “From there, I never looked back,” he says.
The comedian has gone on to tour across Africa and become one of Uganda’s best-known exports, performing in the U.K. and the U.S. alongside household names such as The Daily Show host Trevor Noah at the 2015 Comedy Central International Comedy Festival in South Africa.
Not bad for an ordinary guy from the tiny village of Ombokolo in northwestern Uganda. “I’m a star [in Ombokolo]. I’m like their best-kept secret, I’m a national treasure in Ombokolo,” he says.
Salvador beat fellow Ugandan comedian Pablo Kimuli, who beat Idringi in the 2009 national competition. Only one comedian from each country represented was allowed through to the semifinals, and Salvado’s video submission outperformed Pablo’s.
“If they had chosen the top 20 depending on the votes, Uganda would have had two representatives, because [Pablo] was also doing well,” he says.
His stage name, Salvado, was gleaned from a Spanish soap opera, a genre known as telenovelas, which are popular in Uganda. In one series called Second Chance there is a particularly alluring male character called Salvador.
“He was the most good-looking (sic) person on Earth. Every lady wanted to touch him or see him, so every time I called myself that it would cause a roar,” he says.
The comedian said he will be travelling to Helsinki, Finland for the next level of competitions.
“I say thank you with a big heart… will be traveling to Helsinki for the second round in December,” said Salvador.
Laughter brings people closer, succeeding where diplomacy and democracy have failed. It is a universal language, the Laugh Factory website says. This event highlights an alternative ambassador — the kind that brings diplomacy through a belly laugh, it continues.
The champion will also become a comedy peace world ambassador.
In the meantime, you can go online and watch the man in action, and his rivals, and vote. https://www.laughfactory.com/fpiw
