“The Spiritual Reason Why My Mother Named Me After A Lizard” — Antar Laniyan Reveals Shocking Birth Story

 

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Nollywood veteran actor Antar Laniyan has sparked massive reactions online after revealing the deeply emotional and culturally significant story behind his unique name. The celebrated filmmaker opened up during an episode of Behind The Fame, where he discussed the extraordinary circumstances surrounding his birth and the sacrifices made by his late mother.

According to Laniyan, his mother often recounted that he remained in her womb for 18 months, an unusually long duration that caused fear and speculation within their community. 

He explained that the extended pregnancy went far beyond medical expectations, leading many to conclude the issue was not physical but spiritual, based on traditional beliefs.

During the interview, the actor shared that his mother was eventually advised to eat a creature known in Yoruba culture as “Anta,” a lizard-like animal believed to help induce labour. Trusting the advice, the family prepared the animal for her. Miraculously, just one hour after consuming it, she gave birth to him. This remarkable moment inspired his mother to name him after the creature.

Laniyan revealed that the name holds great sentimental value for him, serving as a constant reminder of the struggles and sacrifices mothers endure to bring their children into the world. He emphasized that many people fail to understand the depth of what their mothers went through during childbirth.

In his words:

“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.

“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 added that growing up, he was often teased about his name by schoolmates, which pushed him to modify it:

“When I got to primary school and my friends were playing with the name, I added an R to make it Antar.”

The viral video has since ignited conversations across social media about Yoruba cultural traditions, maternal sacrifices, and the actor’s astonishing 18-month birth story.

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