DOCUMENTARY: An Arm less Champion With No Legs

-

 By Victor Olubiye



Prince Randian, born in British Guyana in 1871, was no ordinary sideshow performer—he was a living testament to human resilience and ingenuity. Discovered by the legendary P.T. Barnum in 1889, Randian toured the United States throughout the 1930s, captivating audiences as the “Living Torso” or “human caterpillar.” 

Born without arms or legs, he defied expectations by moving with remarkable agility, wriggling across the stage like a reptile. But what truly set him apart was the skill and charisma he brought to his performances, transforming what could have been mere spectacle into a powerful display of strength and individuality.

Randian’s talents extended far beyond the stage. With no limbs, he mastered everyday tasks that seemed impossible—shaving, writing, painting, and even rolling cigarettes using only his mouth and shoulders. His linguistic abilities were equally impressive; fluent in English, German, French, and Hindi, he could effortlessly engage diverse audiences with wit and intelligence. This rare combination of physical skill and mental sharpness made him more than a sideshow curiosity—he was a bridge between worlds, connecting people through his extraordinary life and talents.

Despite the harsh prejudices of his era, especially toward people of color and those with disabilities, Randian crafted a rich personal life. He married and fathered four children, proudly embracing roles beyond his public persona. Known for his sharp humor and surprising carpentry skills, he once joked about building his own home—an emblem of his unwavering determination to live on his own terms. 

Prince Randian’s story endures as a celebration of human spirit, showing that limitations exist only where we allow them to, and that true strength lies in courage, creativity, and dignity.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

FEATURE: Better Eat Well — Your Future Doctors Are Using ChatGPT to Pass Exams

-
Image
 By Victor Olubiye  In the lecture halls of Nigeria’s medical and health institutions, a quiet revolution is underway — not in the laboratories or operating theatres, but on smartphones, laptops, and AI chat windows. Increasingly, student doctors are turning to tools like ChatGPT to prepare for — and sometimes cheat in — their examinations. While artificial intelligence has opened new frontiers in learning, educators, students, and health professionals alike are raising a red flag: Are we training a generation of doctors who don’t truly understand medicine? At first glance, using AI-powered tools like ChatGPT for academic assistance may seem harmless — even innovative. After all, the future of healthcare is undeniably intertwined with technology. But as reports grow of students using these tools not just for study but to bypass learning altogether, the issue has become a ticking time bomb in Nigeria’s already strained medical education system. “You had better eat good food,” w...
Read more

FEATURE: A Town That Never Stopped Giving — Ife Odan’s Long Wait for Governor Adeleke’s Attention

-
Image
 By Victor Olubiye Nestled in the heart of Osun State’s western region lies Ife Odan — a town once known for its robust agricultural contribution, now left in the shadows of neglect. For over ten years, the town has watched its roads deteriorate, its healthcare weaken, and its schools fade, all while continuing to feed the state through unrelenting farming efforts. The resilience of Ife Odan is undeniable, but its patience is wearing thin. The people of Ife Odan believed change had finally arrived in 2022, when they threw their political weight behind Senator Ademola Adeleke’s gubernatorial bid. It wasn’t about party loyalty; it was a vote anchored in hope — a belief that Adeleke’s message of “people-first governance” would bring long-awaited development to their doorstep. But nearly three years into his administration, the town is still waiting. From cassava to maize, yam to leafy vegetables, Ife Odan’s fertile lands continue to supply Osun State’s markets despite minimal governme...
Read more

FEATURE: When Love Hurts: The Silent Struggles of Nigerian Men in Toxic Relationships

-
Image
 By Victor Olubiye  In Nigeria, men are raised to be strong. From a young age, boys are told to “man up,” to swallow pain like bitter medicine and keep walking. They are taught to provide, to protect, and to endure — but rarely to speak about heartbreak. Yet, beneath the stoic expressions and confident strides, there is a quiet epidemic of emotional wounds inflicted by those they love most. For many Nigerian men, romantic relationships are not just a matter of companionship — they are investments of trust, pride, and vulnerability. When such trust is betrayed, the emotional blow can be devastating. Take the story of Tunde, a 34-year-old banker in Lagos. He met his girlfriend during his NYSC year, lavishing her with attention, financial support, and his deepest confidences. “I thought she was the one,” he says. “I opened up to her about things I never told anyone. She made me believe she valued that, until I found out she was mocking me to her friends.” For Tunde, the betrayal ...
Read more

POEM: When Her Smile Became My Wound

-
Image
 By Victor Olubiye I gave her my heart like yam in a clay pot, warm, soft, steaming with trust, but she sliced it with cold eyes and served it to silence. I built my love like a house in the dry season, brick upon brick, thinking the harmattan would bless us, but she opened the roof and invited the rain. Her laughter used to heal my tired bones, now it cuts like the edge of a new razor, sharp and careless. They say a man must not cry, but tears know no gender when betrayal lives inside your chest. I walk through the streets with my face strong, but inside, I am a market after fire — empty stalls, burnt memories. O, woman, why call a man “my king” only to sell his crown for the price of another’s attention? Why kiss with honeyed lips, then spit bitterness into the same mouth? I am learning now — love should not be war, but if it must be, let my heart hold the shield next time.
Read more

From Calabar to London: How August 5 Became a Spiritual Turning Point in Nigerian History

-
Image
 By Victor Olubiye August 5may seem like just another day—but across centuries, it has quietly marked a series of profound beginnings that helped shape Nigeria’s spiritual and religious landscape. From the arrival of missionaries on African soil to a pivotal moment in the history of Nigerian gospel film, August 5 is a date that ties together threads of faith, resilience, and legacy. 1876: Mary Slessor Sails Into History as “Queen of Calabar” On August 5, 1876, 28-year-old Mary Mitchell Slessor, a humble Scottish Presbyterian missionary, boarded the SS Ethiopia from Liverpool, England, headed for the coastal town of Duke Town in Calabar, present-day Cross River State. With a fiery commitment to the gospel and social reform, Slessor would go on to challenge long-held traditions like the killing of twins and become one of the most revered foreign missionaries in Nigeria. Nicknamed the “Queen of Calabar,” Slessor not only preached the gospel but also adopted abandoned twins and fought ...
Read more

The Unsinkable Stewardess: The Incredible Survival Story of Violet Jessop

-
Image
 By Victor Olubiye In a tale that defies belief and mirrors the plot of an epic survival novel, Violet Jessop earned her place in maritime history as “The Unsinkable Stewardess” — a woman who lived through not one, not two, but three of the most catastrophic ship disasters of the early 20th century. Born in Argentina to Irish immigrants and the eldest of nine children, Jessop embarked on a life at sea that would test the limits of human resilience. Her first brush with disaster came in 1911 aboard the RMS Olympic when it collided with a British warship. Though shaken, she survived and continued her career undeterred. Only a year later, Jessop was working as a stewardess on the ill-fated RMS Titanic. On the night of April 14, 1912, when the “unsinkable” ship struck an iceberg, Jessop sprang into action, helping women and children into lifeboats. She eventually escaped the disaster herself in Lifeboat No. 16, witnessing the ship’s harrowing descent into the Atlantic. Yet fate was not...
Read more

A Day of Spiritual Landmarks: How August 4th Shaped Modern Christianity in Nigeria and Beyond

-
Image
 By Victor Olubiye August 4th holds a profound place in the timeline of global and Nigerian Christian history. It is a date that, over the decades, has marked the birth of monumental movements, spiritual visions, and institutions that continue to shape Christian faith and practice today. From the dense terrains of Ogun State, Nigeria, to the remote outposts of Newfoundland, Canada, this day has witnessed the fulfillment of divine instructions, the founding of future-defining ministries, and the laying of physical and spiritual foundations. 1998: Redemption City Receives Legal Backing On this day in 1998, what began humbly as a quiet prayer retreat in 1983 attained a significant milestone. The Redemption Camp—now known as Redemption City—officially obtained its certificate of occupancy from the Ogun State Government, marked with the number 23876. This document transformed a makeshift spiritual campsite into a formally recognized city. Spanning approximately 45,000 acres as of 2015, ...
Read more

FACT: The World's Longest Walk

-
Image
 By Victor Olubiye The longest walkable road in the world stretches over an incredible 14,000 miles and has never been fully completed. This epic route begins in Cape Town, South Africa, and ends in Magadan, Russia, traversing diverse landscapes, climates, and cultures. It’s a journey that would take approximately three years to walk, assuming a steady pace of 12-15 miles per day. Along the way, travelers would pass through an array of destinations, each offering unique challenges and experiences: - Cape Town, South Africa: The starting point, known for its stunning coastline, Table Mountain, and vibrant cultural heritage.   - Botswana: Vast savannahs and wildlife reserves, offering a taste of Africa's natural beauty.   - Zambia: Home to the iconic Victoria Falls, one of the most breathtaking natural wonders in the world.   - Sudan: Featuring ancient archaeological sites and vast desert landscapes.   - Jordan: A land of historical treasures, ...
Read more

Folake Solanke: The Woman Who Shattered Nigeria’s Legal Glass Ceiling

-
Image
 By Victor Olubiye In the grand corridors of Nigeria’s legal history, one name stands out like a shining beacon—Chief Folake Solanke, SAN, OON, CON—a woman whose brilliance and determination broke barriers, inspired generations, and redefined what was possible for women in law. Born on March 29, 1932, Solanke’s path was perhaps destined for greatness. She is the daughter of Chief Jacob Sogboyega Odulate, the celebrated pharmacist and inventor of the iconic Alabukun medicine—a household remedy whose reach spanned decades. With such a legacy of ingenuity and grit, it was no surprise that Folake carved her own path to history. After earning her law degree from the University of Newcastle, she was called to the English Bar in 1962. Returning to Nigeria, she etched her name in the nation’s legal annals by becoming the first woman to be conferred the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)—a feat that made her the first woman to don the silk gown reserved for the country’s t...
Read more

The Woman Who Drew the Line: How Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh Shielded Nigeria from Ebola

-
Image
 By Victor Olubiye In the sweltering heat of Lagos in July 2014, the air carried more than just the pulse of Africa’s most populous city — it carried a hidden threat. It arrived quietly, tucked inside the body of a man who stepped off a plane at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, carrying nothing visible but fatigue and a fever. That man was Patrick Sawyer, and the illness inside him was Ebola. For most Nigerians, Ebola was a distant nightmare — a deadly epidemic ravaging parts of West Africa but still, they thought, far from home. For one Lagos physician, however, the danger felt very real. Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, a calm but decisive figure in her white coat, would soon be faced with a choice that could save millions — or doom them. Born on October 27, 1956, in Lagos, Dr. Adadevoh’s path seemed intertwined with leadership and public service from the start. Her great-grandfather, Herbert Macaulay, is celebrated as one of Nigeria’s founding nationalists. Through her mother’s...
Read more