Nollywood veteran Antar Laniyan has stirred reactions on social media after sharing the unusual and emotional story behind his name.
The actor made the revelation during an appearance on Behind The Fame, where he spoke about his late mother and the extraordinary steps she took before his birth.
“I Stayed 18 Months in Her Womb” – Actor Reveals
Laniyan explained that, according to his mother, he remained in her womb for 18 months, far longer than the usual pregnancy period.
The prolonged delay left people around his mother worried, with many suspecting a spiritual issue rather than a medical one.
His Mother Ate a Creature Called “Anta”
In the interview, the filmmaker said his mother was advised to eat a creature known in Yoruba as “Anta,” a lizard-like animal believed to help induce labor.
She agreed, the dish was prepared for her, and just an hour after she ate it, he was born.
Why She Gave Him the Name
Because of this rare experience, his mother decided to name him after the creature.
Laniyan said the name carries a deep story, one he proudly shares to remind people of the sacrifices mothers make.
He noted that many people never truly understand what their mothers went through before giving birth to them.
How “Anta” Became “Antar”
The actor also revealed that the original name didn’t stay the same. When he got to primary school, classmates teased him over it, so he added the letter “R” to make it Antar, the version everyone knows today.
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.
“I overstayed in my mother’s womb; I stayed 18 months, according to her. People around were wondering what was wrong. I mean, something must have gone wrong, not medically. So it could be spiritual. She had to eat something in Yoruba called Anta. It looks like a lizard, smaller than a crocodile.
“So my mother didn’t see anything wrong with adding that thing to my name. She had to take it. They had to prepare it for her. She took it. An hour later, I came. When I got to primary school and my friends were playing with the name, I added an R to make it Antar.”
Fans React to Viral Video
The viral clip has sparked a wave of discussions online. While many viewers praised the actor for honoring his mother’s sacrifice, others expressed shock at the unusual circumstances surrounding his birth.
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