Sierra Leonean comedian Kindo Armani has issued a public statement to clarify remarks he made during a recent event attended by President Julius Maada Bio and other dignitaries.
In a press release shared with the public, Kindo Armani explained that comments he made while serving as comedian and chairman at the commissioning of a project were purely for humour and not meant to be taken seriously.
During his performance, the comedian joked that one of the problems the President should solve was ensuring that the ruling SLPP remains in power. He also added, in a light-hearted manner, that comedians without visas, like himself, could suffer if that did not happen.
He further made jokes about Sierra Leonean military officers who were reportedly arrested in Guinea, humorously suggesting they now only understand the local language. He stressed that the statement was clearly not true and was part of his comedy routine.
The comedian said parts of the video clip were edited and shared online in a way that made the jokes appear serious, leading to misunderstandings among some members of the public.
“I’m responding to this out of respect for my many fans who have been manipulated or misled to misunderstand me,” he said.
Kindo Armani emphasised that his role as a comedian is to make people laugh by using real-life situations, adding that he has done this consistently for over 20 years.
He also noted that he has friends across the political divide and that his comedy should not be seen as political messaging.
“If every joke is taken as a serious statement, then comedy will lose its space. The intention matters,” he stated.
He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to using comedy to entertain, educate, and bring people together, while acknowledging that not everyone may agree with all his jokes.
Read Press release
