New Hollywood Movie Tells Inspiring Story of Nigerian Pathologist

The stage is set – or big screen in this case – for the debut of a film with a Nigerian at the forefront. Our very own, Dr. Bennet Omalu, will be portrayed by A-list actor, Will Smith, in Concussion which premieres in the US on December 25, 2015. Omalu’s story of courage and triumph over obstacles truly deserves the recognition it is receiving, and is certain to inspire others to follow in his steps.  The Nigerian-born forensic pathologist made medical history in 2002 after discovering chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disease that affects American football players due to severe head trauma from activities. Symptoms include memory loss, aggression, depression and dementia among others. What should have been celebrated as the first step in prevention, received major public outcry at the time, with America’s favourite pastime being declared unsafe and dangerous, to the detriment of the National Football League (NFL) and its fans. In an interview with Frontline – cited in Bustline – Omalu tells readers some of the hurtful remarks sent his way during the frenzy:

“How dare you, a foreigner like you from Nigeria? What is Nigeria known for, the eighth most corrupt country in the world? Who are you? Who do you think you are to come to tell us how to live our lives?”

Three years later, the NFL put in place concussion guidelines that determined whether a player could continue playing in a game after receiving a blow to the head, leading to much safer playing conditions. We can’t wait to see the movie! Watch the movie’s trailer here featuring supporting stars, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alec Baldwin,and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje.