Kenyan comedian opens up about working in the US

Andrew Duncan Oudour who goes by the stage name 2mbili is one of Kenya’s funniest man whose star continues to shine day by day. The comedian has been lucky to share stages with great names in the comedy industry having necessarily not been engaged with Kenya’s Laugh Industry, Churchill Show.

In this year’s African Comedy Tour, 2mbili is one of the comedian chosen entertain at the annual event that goes down in the United States sharing a stage with the likes of Ann Kansiime and Eric Omondi.

The 24 year old got a chance to speak the Nation and talked about his life, career and future plans. He explains the genesis of his stage name,2mbili which he said that he had vowed to make a name for himself the comedy arena by the age of 22 hence the name two mbili(2mbili).

He was forced to join comedy immediately after joining University of Nairobi to pursue a course in Microbiology in which he intends to invest in as well. The financial difficulties as a fresh man in campus pushed him to look for ways to make some money aside from depending on his parents for survival in the city. This saw him start audition for roles like on the Churchill show but his quest was for him to stand alone as a comedian not under an individual.

“I decided to take on comedy in 2013, while still a first year. I linked up with comedians such as YY, and Sleepy, who weren’t popular then. We did several auditions, including ‘Churchill show’ but I wasn’t really will to be under any management,” said 2mbili.

The comedian whose content is not online explains that he decided not to post his work online due to plagiarism from even established acts in the industry, something he could not withstand. The comedian who is fresh from the US from the just concluded African Comedy Tour says the organizers liked his work at the shows he had performed and decided to book him for the event.

“He enjoyed my style (doing comedy in English) and he reached out and booked me alongside Kansiime and Eric,” noted 2mbili.

The comedian who has been in the game for five years says had a lot to learn especially from Kansiime who has been there a long time. On a light note, he says Kansiime advised him not to do interviews for free. He however stated that he respects her sentiments but holds a different opinion on the matter.

“I wouldn’t do that, but Kansiime does. I believe it’s because she knows her worth. I respect her position though. If anything, most of us artistes are always looked down upon,” he said.

Asked about his comments on the saga surrounding David the Student, “All I can say Is that was sad and very regrettable” while adding that the claims by the comedian that Kenyan comedy doesn’t pay are to some extent true.

“It does not for everyone. Not every comedian is happy out there” he added.

The comedian draws his inspiration and motivation from his young family. He is a father of two at the age of 24.