Nollywood actor and director Antar Laniyan has opened up about the meaning of his unique name and the circumstances surrounding his birth, describing it as a reminder of his mother’s sacrifice.
Speaking on Behind The Fame podcast, Laniyan said his name carries deep cultural and personal weight. “There can never be another Antar,” he said.
“There’s a story behind it, and I like telling it because I want every individual to know the importance of having a mother, a good mother, a great one.”
He revealed that, according to his mother, he spent 18 months in the womb, a situation that caused fear and confusion among relatives.
“I overstayed in my mother’s womb. I stayed 18 months,” he said. “People around were wondering what was wrong. Not medically, so they believed it could be spiritual.”
After consultations, his mother was instructed to eat an animal known in Yoruba as ‘ant’ (pronounced differently from the English word).
“She had to take it. They prepared it for her, and an hour later, I came,” he explained. “She didn’t see anything wrong in adding that to my name.”
Laniyan added that only his family knows the true pronunciation and meaning. “Between me and my mother and immediate family, we know what we’re talking about,” he said.
He also expressed gratitude to his late mother for her resilience. “I thank her for everything, for every move,” he said.
