Original Story Published by: Ekonde Daniel, www.globalvoices.org
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons, globalvoices.org
(Above) Francis Ngannou, a neavyweight championship fighter from Cameroon, heads to the big screen
As a sand quarry worker 20 years ago in his native Batié, in western Cameroon, Francis Ngannou did not know he would one day feature in one of America’s most popular film series.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter has been included in the “Fast and Furious 9” cast and is set to become the second African to appear in the franchise, after Beninese American, Djimon Gaston Hounsou.
“You know, when you wait for something and you’re very excited about it, and at the end, they are just like ‘yes you get the role,’ he explained, “ you get a little confused; you are happy but you don’t know what to do…you are happy but you don’t know how to express it,” said Ngannou
“I had waited for a long time after auditioning for the role and I was a bit stressed and nervous to get the news,” Ngannou said in a phone interview. “Then, they [Universal Studios] confirmed to my team [UFC] that I have been given a role, because if you look at my post [on Twitter] that was from Universal Studios,” Ngannou said.
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