Olumide Oyedeji: Basketball gave me name, fame, security, exposure

•I’m positive my kids will play basketball for Nigeria

By Joe Apu

Olumide Oyedeji is one of Nigeria’s most decorated athletes. In this concluding part of the interview started last week, Oyedeji, the first African Secretary General of the World Olympians Association, president of the Nigeria Olympians Association, Third Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee and member of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, spoke about his family, especially his kids and their passion and love for Nigeria even though they live abroad.

Let’s look at Olumide as a player. What kind of experience would you say basketball has given you?

I mean, basketball gave me everything, to God only be the glory. You know, Basketball gave me name, fame, security and exposure. So that’s the reason I want to give back to the younger ones. And I want to just spread my knowledge and share my thoughts and knowledge about basketball. ‎

How did you end up marrying a Yoruba woman in spite of your many years in America?

It’s a funny story. When I was young, I used to love mixed kids and hoped that when I grew up I would have them too. But one of the main reasons, main reasons I had a change of heart was because of my mother.

She told me that she would not want an interpreter between her and her daughter-in-law. So, that was the only thing she asked from me.

So when I travelled, I now saw the impact of what she told me about dialect. So I said, I am not going to marry a foreigner because I have to do what they call know your personality (KYP). Because I know that I as a Yoruba man, my wife is not going to tell me when my mother will come to my house, when my friends will visit me. I cannot do this, I cannot do that. I respect my wife so much but as a traditionalist, she’s my wife. We’re Yorubas inside and Americans outside.

I just wanted someone that can speak my language. I want my kids to be able to speak my language. I want to promote my culture. So that’s it. That was one of the reasons why I decided also to pay back my mother, to make her feel happy, because she went through a lot.

What about your dad?

My dad has always been there for me. My parents divorced when I was eight. I grew up with my mother. My father did his best. Unfortunately, things didn’t work between both of them. I respect him. He passed away now about 15 years ago. One of the things that really saddened me was that he passed away five days after he moved to the house that I built for him.

What kind of food do you enjoy?

I cook everything now. I cook Nigerian food. I love Nigerian food. My kids love Nigerian food. I speak Yoruba in my house even in the US. My home is the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The younger one speaks maybe about 35-40 per cent, but they understand 100 per cent. My two older sons, they speak, they understand, they hear every single thing I say.

I’ve never been a fan of Oyinbo food, but at the same time, I adapt to every situation. The only thing I don’t eat is pork. ‎

There is a particular delicacy right now, egbo and ewa. If you ask for delicacy, I will give you egbo and ewa. So, you know like, look, right now we don’t even have it. I’m really looking for it. You say egbo and ewa; it’s like corn that’s peeled, becomes white and very soft. And I will put the beans on it, like mashed beans. EwaAagoyin. Ooh! And they just have fried the oil. They fry the oil. Look at it, Egbo. So you have that. You just, oh my goodness, oh la la la. Yeah, for sure, I mean, I’m a typical dish man. I love pounded yam. That’s great with the egusi, correct one, with the efo (vegetable).

‎One food I will forever be grateful for is beans. It saved me in my most trying time. I had beans in a different form. I have the beans like the soft or hard. If I know that I don’t really have money, I’m just going to have the beans. Just make the beans to be watery. From on top of the fire, I put Garri on it. By the time you take one or two spoons and drink water, you are good to go.

What are your regrets?

I never think at any moment in my life and feel sad or regret. I just thank God for the opportunity that I got. I mean, I might not be satisfied. I would have loved to achieve more. I would love to have done better. Instead of regret, I am rather grateful and I am thankful. There are so many people who want to have such opportunity that has made my life a testimony. So I remain positive, I stay positive. I thank God for who I am today.

Though I would have loved to have more opportunity in the NBA. So I took a few decisions that today I believe I would have stayed back in Seattle instead of going to Orlando.

I had a friend, God bless his soul, who actually helped me. He came out from nowhere. He became a friend. He helped me. So I’m thanking God for people who caught up with me in my life. Like Rob Muers who believed in me when nobody did. He kind of just inspired me. My coach Ayo Bakari was there too and importantly Col. Sam Ahmedu (Rtd) who took me in when I had nowhere else to go.

What’s your kind of music?

I love gospel music; Nigerian music and I love hip-hop. I love more of inspirational music and songs like those of King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, and all those ones that their words means a lot.

Anytime I feel troubled, I listen to Kirk Franklin. He said, you don’t have to worry, don’t be afraid. Joy comes in the morning. If your hand is open, lift your hand to say, I know that I can make it. I know that I can stand. No matter what comes your way, my life is in your hands. So, even like back then, when he said, ladies and gentlemen, listen to my message. No matter your sorrow, no matter your struggle, the Lord is your own. Continue with your prayer. Continue with your struggle. The downfall of a man is not the end of his life.

By praying to God, by struggling for life, sooner or later, you shall overcome your problems. You know, you see all those songs; you say, ah, good, good, good. So, I listen to something that’s very inspirational.

How many of your kids are involved in basketball?

I mean, I have five kids. I have one who’s a model. He’s a model for Louis Vuitton. I have a second one who’s an IT guru. And I have my two daughters who play basketball. They are elite. And my youngest son also plays basketball.

Would you let them play basketball for Nigeria?

Absolutely 150 per cent. There’s no other way. They had their Nigerian passport at a tender age. We bleed green-white-green for life. I’m proud to wear the country’s colours. I’m sure by God’s grace, they’re going to wear it too.