Celebrated local comedian Patrick Salvado Idringi has shared the story of how his “Africa Laughs” comedy show came to life. Read it below.
“It was in 2013 and I was just 4 yrs in the comedy industry.. this was arguably my breakout year…. I went to Nairobi for a show dubbed Night of a thousand Laughs which also took place in Kampala, from that show I thought to myself, why can’t I.. a local.. do such a show in my own country… because the hardest thing which was getting the comedians had become a piece of cake since I had performed on the same stage with some of the best from the continent. I was like let me do this..
I gathered myself, chose a date, convinced the comedians who all agreed and was like okay next hurdle is finding a premium sponsor. I was known as a Bell Lager drinker and I was loyal to that Brand, the whole company knew they had me for life Coz I was even their official MC for all their functions, I was so confident of getting them on board, I even made them aware of the show during one of the events I was hosting for them and the response from everyone including the MD was amazing, then came the actual soliciting..
Hoooooo I was tossed…. from one office to another for a period of 3months bare in mind I had already confirmed venue, date and comedians. I stared panicking as the date got closer… still the tossing continued.
One day I said if this doesn’t happen… i’m going to cancel. I call the brand manager .. he says ohh I was even thinking about your show, come to office at 9am.. I was there at 8am waited at reception till 9am, the receptionist calls him but he doesn’t pick up, I call him as well still same result.. so I send him a message to which he replies “in a meeting” so I was like should I stay.. leave.. cry.. die??? 3Hrs later.. his “meeting” isn’t done yet.. so I call and he says he is tired… I was like it’s official… this won’t work.. I gather myself and leave…
So I’m by the road side outside the factory waiting for a Taxi .. all Confused and frustrated when a prado hoots and parks next to me… And the driver comes out and says dingli dingli (for my Idringi name) and who do I see.. one of my favourite persons as of now Samuel aka Hooper.. he is like what are you doing here..
I was embarrassed cos he worked for a competitor brand.. but bse I was so frustrated, I was honest.. I told him the story.. he was like this is a good concept.. he asked for the proposal. Again I was embarrassed coz it had Bell lager and all my praises for it all through… but I said I loose nothing … so I gave it to him and he went through it .. his question .. “Are you sure you can bring Basketmouth to Uganda?” To which I replied OFCOURSE with evidence (Whatsapp communication) and he said cool, I’ll call you.. I said to myself .. “typical, that’s what the last one said “.
I go home, all frustrated and confused … but hooooo at 10pm I get a call from Sam, he is like can you be at office at 9am, I said boss even if it’s 6am I’ll be there, Next morning.. smartly dressed I arrive at the office, wait at the reception area and not a minute later i’m summoned to the board room that had other staff notably Mr. Daniel Ogong the Marketing Manager NBL.. I was like hoooo, all of them holding the Bell branded proposal.
Sam asks, what do you need for this show to happen? People people I wanted to die … Not even a day and my proposal had been approved … after I told them what was required .. the creative team at Moringa agency was already asking for ALL THE COMEDIAN’s pictures to design the Poster… and that my friends was the birth of Africa Laughs … thanks to Club through its brand manager Sam Hooper.. we are now 3yrs Old.”
Staff Writer
