Ace actor, film director and producer, Antar Laniyan, has sensationally revealed that his mother carried the pregnancy that produced him for 18 months due to spiritual manipulation.
The actor, who was recently nominated as one of the best four actors in Africa, also told us that he would have become a soldier. He also spoke on other personal issues.
Many Nigerians know you for your acting prowess, but not many know your history. Could you tell us a bit of yourself?
I am from Osogbo, in Osun State. The name, Antar, is Yoruba; it has to do with the story of my birth; that is why it’s unique; that’s why you hardly can or you may not find another person bearing that name. So, it has to do with the story of my birth. I overstayed in my mother’s womb. I stayed 18 months. At that time, there was this fear that my mother would die with the baby in her womb; so she had to run all over the place to seek help. During her sojourn, she met a great herbalist that revealed what was the cause of the abnormal delay. She found out that someone was behind it. An animal called iguana, which is awonriwon or Antar in Yoruba, had to be used. It ‘s bigger than lizard. It was added to some salt and a concoction was made for my mother to take. A few hours after she took it, she went into labour. On her way to the hospital, I came on. She didn’t, therefore, see anything wrong in naming me after the animal.
Is there any other name she calls you apart from that?
She calls me Babatunde and others, but she prefers that name to others. She preferred it. She said that as far as she was concerned I am Antar. (laughs)
When did you start acting?
My earlier stage acting was in 1976; it’s a long time now. However, I became a professional, under Ben Tomoloju, in 1980, June 18, 1980 precisely. It’s about 31 years today and am not 50 yet (laughs).
That means you started when you were just a boy?
Yes, I started early. My parents are dead now. My dad was enthusiastic about my acting career that he once nicknamed me Antar the Sango, on seeing my picture as Sango, in a stage play. He even took the picture to his office. I just showed him the picture and he collected it. I didn’t know that he would take it to the office. You know, he was so proud of me that he wanted everybody to see it. There was no television to show our performance then. My daddy was an educationist; he was working with the ministry of education; so he just took it to the office. When he returned it he had written, ‘Antar D Sango;’ yeah he wrote it there.
Can you remember your first payment as an actor?
I can’t remember. In any case, I remember RMD (Richard Mofe-Damijo) asking when were going to earn our first N1, 000. I remember that we where under the tree at the National Arts Theatre discussing and wondering when we were going to earn our first N1, 000. There was no money then; nobody was paying. Who would pay you that time? Nobody was paying anybody. Around 1976, I was less than 15. I was a small boy. I was a small boy running away from home, to help people carry props, in production stage. I used to abandon my mother’s wares to help them carry drums.
During FESTAC 1977, though, a small boy, I went to the theatre to watch a play I was really passionate about, but they did not allow me to enter because I could not afford the gate fee. I talked to a woman, who was a cleaner. I collected a drum and broom from the woman and helped her to sweep Hall 2 of the theatre. I will never forget that day. After the sweeping and everything, the woman said I should stay behind while tickets were being sold. So the audience came in and I just sat down on the rug there and I saw the performance live; that was 1977. I was desperate, my brother. I saw the promo on television. I saw their dance and all that. Everybody was talking about FESTAC 77, it was like an anthem. I was fascinated with the euphoria in the air. That was why I made up my mind to watch it, against any odd.
Could you tell us about your growing up?
