Mo Jabari is grateful every time he steps into the wrestling ring. When he was younger, Jabari wasn’t thinking about making a name for himself; he was just trying to survive. He grew up in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in the middle of the Kenyan desert. Jabari says every day was like a fight for his life. “I’ve seen things a kid like me shouldn’t be able to see,” said the 30-year-old who’s known as “Kid Chocolate” in the ring. “Things even grown adults today see only in the movies.” Strong Mother The name Kakuma means “the middle of nowhere.” Jabari spent the first 12 years of his life in the camp and says the only thing that got him through it was the strength of his mother. “Very resilient woman,” said Jabari. “For her, it was, ‘Stick by me, and we’re just going to march forward. Despite anything, despite any trouble and hardship, we’re just going to keep marching forward.’ “Without her, I don’t think I’m here today. I know I’m not here today.” Found Wrestling Jabari and his family got refugee status when he was 12, and they came to Canada for a better life. Jabari was determined to make the most of his opportunity. He says wrestling was his calling card, and he knew he could inspire others. “I can change myself and my mother’s life,” he said. “But I can also change young men and women that come from where I come from, and they can look at me and say, ‘Hey, he’s from where we are.’” “That’s my goal.” Documentary about his life Jabari has wrestled worldwide and even made it to the big show—the WWE. He’s such an inspiration that filmmaker Alex Eskandarkhah decided to turn his story into a documentary short. Middle of Nowhere premieres at the Calgary International Film Festival on Sept. 30. “He doesn’t need a gimmick,” said Eskandarkhah. “I think his story is so real. You might not be able to get that watching him perform in the ring. “I thought a film would be the best way to shine a light on a character that I think everyone should know.” “This documentary does just that for me. I get to remember,” said Jabari. “Not that I ever forgot where I came from, but I get to breathe. “I get to relax and stop for a second and watch where I came from and say, ‘That’s where I came from, and this is where I am today.’” You can find out more about Middle of Nowhere and how to see it by clicking here.
