British comedian Prince Abdi returns to the stage in the Super Muslim Comedy Tour. Abdi is a decorated comedian who has supported the likes of Reginald D. Hunter and Stephen K Amos. He has also performed alongside Chris Rock and Louis CK. In 2007 he won the Your Comedy Star award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Abdi’s comedy often focuses on his Somali roots, his upbringing in Brixton, South London. His humor comes through his unique story-telling style that has garnered him praise in recent years. Abdi is described as ‘refreshingly funny’ by the Stage and ‘pacy, upbeat and infectious’ by Chortle.
Next, Abdi will join a host of other Muslim comedians for the 6th edition of the Super Muslim Comedy Tour, bringing laughter to 10 cities across the UK.
Prince Abdi: pitch, classroom, theatre…
Abdi’s career as a comedian was not always on the cards. As a gifted young sportsman, he trained to play soccer professionally, with trials at Millwall FC. However, his soccer ambitions evaporated with a serious knee injury. Afterwards he was lost: ‘I had no idea what I was doing after football’ he told The National.
Abdi then became a school teacher, performing stand-up shows in his spare time. Though he often went unimbursed for these shows, they helped him to spread his name. Working a part-time job at B&Q for ten years, he eventually quit to devote all of his energies to stand-up comedy.
In 2007, he won an Edinburgh Fringe Your Comedy Star award. He also received a nomination for Best Newcomer in the Black Entertainment Awards and came third in the Revels Chortle Comedy Awards.
His stand-up television debut came with Comedy Central’s The World Stands Up. Since then he’s appeared in the BBC’s The Jason Lewis Experience and Diary of a Badman[LINK]. Abdi has now performed shows in Canada, the US, Holland, Kenya, Turkey and South Africa.
Prince Abdi: Somali comedian
Abdi was born in Somalia and came to the UK with his family at the age of 4. He grew up in Brixton, South London, which he describes as a “deprived area of London where opportunities are limited.” He draws from his experiences of growing up there in his comedy, and is the only Somali comedian currently working the UK circuit.
In 2011, Abdi had a big break in television, appearing on primetime UK talent show Show Me The Funny. But it didn’t go as planned. Abdi was voted off in the second round, with harsh comments from the judges and ungenerous editing. Such a high-profile failure affected his regular shows. “I’d be doing gigs and people wouldn’t give me a chance to be funny. I’d get booed,” he recalls.
Nevertheless, Abdi bounced back. His advice to comedians – “be patient; very, very patient… you have to get out there and perform. You have to not look at the money side of it, you have to love it and then the money will come.” Now he tours the world, an aspect of the job he loves: “Traveling abroad, international gigs; they are the highlight,” he says.
Prince Abdi: Super Muslim Comedian
Abdi has now joined the Super Muslim Comedy Tour. It’s the sixth edition of the show, which celebrates the powers of Muslim comedy heroes. Organized by UK-based Penny Appeal, proceeds will go toward the international humanitarian charity’s Thirst Relief campaign.
Abdi features alongside Abdullah Afzal of the BBC’s award-winning Citizen Khan fame. Other notable acts are comedian Paul Choudhury and Fatiha El-Ghorri. El-Ghorri’s comedy breaks stereotypes around Muslim and hijabi women.
“Being a stand-up comedian is really difficult as a Muslim woman so it’s nice to have inclusive events like this where everyone is welcome to come along and have a good laugh” she says.
Check out Prince Abdi’s comedy here and follow him on Instagram for all the latest news on upcoming shows.
