Evalsam Esor’s life was just like many other street vendors in Lagos. Each day, he walked the busy streets, trying to make a living by selling homemade fish pies. For a long time, he was simply another vendor, blending into the crowd.
Then, one day, everything changed. Esor came up with a catchy way to sell his fish pies—singing a unique line to promote his product. In the now-famous video, he sang, “Nawa o, some people dem too do oh, nawa o. Fish pieeee!” The lighthearted tune immediately grabbed people’s attention, and the video went viral across social media.
Esor soon became an internet sensation. People loved his cheerful style, and the video spread far and wide. What started as a simple sales tactic turned into something much bigger than he could have ever expected.
Reflecting on his experience in an interview with Sunday Scoop, Esor talked about how life was before his sudden rise to fame. It was challenging, he explained. Street vending was how he got by, and he worked hard every day just to make ends meet. The viral video brought him much-needed hope and opportunities he’d never dreamed of.
Esor’s story is a reminder that sometimes, the smallest moments can lead to incredible changes. What began as a fun way to sell fish pies turned into an adventure that transformed his life, showing us all how creativity and a positive spirit can make a big difference.
He said, “Before that video went viral, I was living in penury. I was really struggling but my faith kept me going. I lost my dad when I was just six years old, and life became very difficult. My mum did her best, but after she also passed on in 2018, I had to survive on my own. I started hawking at the age of six and since then, I’ve sold almost everything, including moi moi (bean cakes), pomo (cow skin) and cakes.”
Recalling how Nons Miraj came into his life, he said, “I was stunned that she actually came to my ‘pako’ house to visit me. I was at a loss because I had been following her content since her days as Ada Jesus.
“She took me out for shopping, bought groceries, food items, and even took me to a boutique to pick out clothes and shoes. Then she said she would book a hotel for me to stay for a week. She asked me to call my siblings so they could bring all my belongings.
“When we arrived at the location, she revealed that it was actually my new house. I was speechless. She also gave me N200,000. A few weeks later, she invited me to her place for a shoot. Little did I know that she had another surprise—a car!
“Truly, she is my destiny helper. King Mitchy also connected me with Eko Hotel, which turned out to be an incredible blessing. I would have been content working in the kitchen, but I was actually assigned to entertain guests at the bar.
“Although I was scheduled for twice a week, I couldn’t keep up after the first month—yet I still got paid. My life has changed drastically.”
