WWE star Oba Femi (Isaac Odugbesan) credits his Yoruba upbringing for his meteoric rise, citing the phrase “Naija no dey carry last” as key to his success.
The 6’6″, 310-pound powerhouse, who famously defeated Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42, utilizes his background to bring intensity, confidence, and flair to the WWE stage.
Speaking with CNN, Femi stated that surviving in Nigeria prepared him for the global stage.
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“The way the country is structured, if you can make it there, if you can survive there, you can survive anywhere. I feel like that’s where the … saying really comes from: ‘Naija no dey carry last,’” the 28-year-old told CNN, referencing the popular Pidgin English expression, which is used to show the resilience and drive of a typical Nigerian.
“You have to bring some element of respect and likability to the table … and that’s one thing that Yoruba people are pretty good at,” he said.
“I had aspirations to go to the Olympics and win medals, and I achieved some of that to a degree,” the WWE star said.
