Comedian Layi Wasabi Shares Childhood Story of Discipline and Education Expectations
Wasabi, currently residing in the United Kingdom, recounted an incident where his uncle traveled a two-hour journey specifically to discipline him for academic shortcomings. When asked about his experiences with discipline, Wasabi explained, “I never had a next-door neighbour beat me, but I had uncles who did. One even traveled for two hours just to flog me.”
The reason for this stern action was rooted in his academic performance. “My mom always wanted me to pursue medicine or something in the sciences,” Wasabi shared. During his time in Senior Secondary 1 (SS1), students studied all subjects before being placed into specific departments based on their strengths. Wasabi passed biology and chemistry but struggled with physics. Despite excelling in arts subjects, the recommendation for him to switch to the Art department was met with disappointment by his mother.
His mother, believing he was not taking his studies seriously, called one of Wasabi’s uncles for help. The uncle responded swiftly, saying, “Don’t worry, I’ll be in Oshogbo tomorrow.” Wasabi vividly remembered the day his uncle arrived, saying, “I was the one who opened the gate for him and helped carry his load from the car.”
The situation turned serious when his uncle asked to see his report card. Upon seeing his poor physics and mathematics grades, the uncle commanded, “You failed physics and you didn’t do well in mathematics, lie down there.” At that moment, Wasabi knew what was coming next.
In a related development, Layi Wasabi celebrated a significant career milestone in May by winning his first Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA) for Best Digital Content Creator. The prestigious ceremony took place at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos, where his exceptional talent and creativity were recognized alongside other notable nominees like Elozonam and Taaoma. This accolade marked a high point in Wasabi’s career, showcasing his creativity and solidifying his status as a leading figure in digital content creation.
