“I became a cab driver to feed my family in US” – Actor Femi Brainard

Popular Nollywood actor, Femi Brainard, has recounted his ordeal when he migrated to the United States and fended for his family by becoming a cab driver.

The actor said there was a time he felt bad for subjecting his wife to a humiliating life as he became a cab driver, adding that she did not like the idea of relocating abroad.

The 53-year-old added that many Nigerians saw him as a cab driver in the US, and were shocked in disbelief that a celebrity of his calibre was surviving on cab driving.

Brainard revealed this while speaking as a celebrity guest during an interview with the veteran comedian Teju Oyelakin, also known as Teju Babyface, on his podcast.

He said, “I became a cab driver in America just to put food on the table. Whenever people see me, especially Nigerian passengers, they often stare at me in disbelief, wondering if I’m indeed the familiar star they recognise.

“America does not recognise your stardom, nor does it respect your celebrity.”

He said there was a time he was crying at his parking lot when he became penniless, concluding that he preferred to be a popular actor in Nigeria, than an ‘nobody’ abroad.

He said, “At times it would be so hard, I no go get money for hand. That day I went to the parking lot of our apartment, I cried, na me bring this woman here. Yankee no know star o… I had to feed my family.

“I know this couple from the airport, the husband was like, ‘Ask him if he is Femi Brainard and I said yes. The husband didn’t know when he reached at me and asked ‘bros what are you doing here.”

“As difficult as Nigeria seems to be, I would rather be a prince and a celebrity in a system that is not working than come to this place and be a nobody. I am still bothered about rent,” he added.

Vanguard checks revealed that venturing into taxi-driving business is common to a lot of Nigerians relocating abroad to survive especially with the Nigerian actors.

In August 2023, another Nollywood actor, Joseph Benjamin shared his experience of becoming a cab driver in America.

Benjamin relocated in 2016, and disclosed on the Teju Babyface Deep Dive podcast that he drove cabs to pay his bills.

“I got to America on a promise that I had some gigs waiting for me. So I thought I was going to have a soft landing there. I packed up everything from Nigeria, bought a one-way ticket, and came to America.

“I was put in a well-furnished house and all of that. Then two days later, the person who I was supposed to book a deal with said to me, ‘Those our financiers have pulled out. They have an issue.’