Behind the characters
Meet the person.
Understand the work.
Isaac Ayomide Olayiwola
About Layi
Layi Wasabi is a Nigerian comedian and actor whose characters find humour in familiar people and everyday encounters. Raised in Osogbo, he developed an early interest in performance through recorded comedy, school talent shows and drama.
A law graduate of Bowen University, he brings observation, dialogue and physical performance to characters including The Law, Mr. Richard and Professor.
Alongside digital comedy, his screen credits include Adire, Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre and Everybody Loves Jenifa.
Explore acting work ↗01 / Early influences
Growing up
around stories.
Isaac grew up with his mother and younger brother, with support from his extended family, after losing his father when he was about two. He has described his mother as a close friend and an early comic influence.
Her video-rental business brought films and recorded comedy into his childhood. Watching Night of a Thousand Laughs encouraged him to retell jokes at school; Yoruba films also helped nurture his interest in performance.
Based on his accounts in The Culture Custodian ↗ and PUNCH ↗.
02 / Learning to perform
From school drama
to the screen.
At secondary school, he performed comedy and led a drama group, The Emerald Star. He later studied law at Bowen University, continuing an interest in entertainment that had begun well before his online recognition.
Osogbo supplied people and conversations to observe. His time in Ibadan also informed the lawyer character audiences would come to know as The Law.
Sources: The Culture Custodian ↗, Bowen University ↗ and TheCable ↗.
03 / Behind the work
Observation.
Then collaboration.
Layi’s performances grow through observation, experimentation and collaboration. His interviews describe a process of discussing ideas, developing characters and working with a production team to bring stories to the screen.
The result is carefully considered performance: dialogue, costume, posture and expression all contribute to the character. Simple plots and accessible language give audiences a clear way into the humour.
Sources: TechCabal, May 2024 ↗, PUNCH ↗ and OkayAfrica ↗.
04 / Away from performance
Isaac, off camera.
In interviews, Isaac describes himself as reserved, enjoying films, novels and time with a small circle of friends. Learning and new experiences remain part of how he keeps his creative life moving.
Acting has long been an ambition. His screen work continues a practice that began with school drama, alongside the characters audiences encounter online.
From his Guardian Life interview, August 2026 ↗.
Selected recognition
2024
Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards
Best Digital Content Creator
For Medical Negligence
Read about the award ↗