Veteran Nollywood actor and director, Antar Laniyan, has shared the remarkable and unusual story of his birth, which involved an extraordinarily long gestation period and a traditional remedy that directly inspired his name.
The Prolonged Pregnancy and a Traditional Solution
Laniyan revealed during a recent appearance on the talk show Behind the Fame that his mother carried him in the womb for a staggering 18 months. This significant delay in his delivery caused considerable fear and anxiety among his family members.
After hospitals at the time could not provide an explanation or solution, his relatives sought traditional advice. Following a specific recommendation, his mother was advised to consume a creature known locally as 'Anta'. In Yoruba culture, this animal is described as being smaller than a crocodile but resembling a lizard in shape.
"She was advised to eat Anta, and after eating it, I was born within an hour. So my mother didn't see anything wrong with adding that thing to my name," the actor recounted.
From 'Anta' to 'Antar': The Evolution of a Name
The event was so pivotal that it became part of his identity. His mother chose to incorporate 'Anta' into his name to commemorate the extraordinary circumstances of his arrival into the world.
However, the name took on its final form during Laniyan's primary school days. "When I got to primary school and my friends were playing with the name, I added an 'R' to make it Antar," he explained. This minor adjustment was his own creative solution to the teasing from classmates, solidifying the unique name he is known by today.
A Tribute to Motherhood and Family Values
For Laniyan, this birth story is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices mothers endure. He uses the narrative to highlight the often-unseen struggles of parenthood.
"There's a story behind it, and I like telling it at times because I want every individual to know the importance of having a mother: a good mother, a great one," he expressed emotionally. "The kind of things that our mother passed through before they gave birth to us individually, we do not know because we were not there. But when a mother goes into telling you how you came to be, you will weep for yourself."
The actor, who began his career in 1981 and is a graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Ibadan, also reflected on balancing his prolific film career with family life. In a 2018 interview, he discussed how fatherhood taught him responsibility and the necessity of being present for his wife and children.
He admitted his initial fear was that his passion for acting would leave no time for his family. To manage this, Laniyan relied on discipline learned from his own father, prioritizing dialogue over punishment with his kids, and meticulously planning his schedule to ensure quality time at home.
Laniyan's notable career includes featuring in several iconic productions and directing the first episode of the popular television series Super Story by Wale Adenuga in 2000.
