Antar Laniyan

Antar Laniyan
Born
Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria
EducationUniversity of Ibadan, BA in theatre arts
Alma materUniversity of Ibadan
OccupationsFilm actor and producer
Years active1981–present
Notable workSango

Antar Laniyan Listenⓘ is a Nigerian veteran actor, film producer, and director.

Early life

Laniyan was born in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State southwestern Nigeria. He attended Baptist Secondary School where he obtained his (WAEC) certificate in Lagos State before he later proceeded to the University of Ibadan where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre arts.

In a December 2025 appearance on Behind the Fame, Laniyan explained the origin of his stage name, saying his mother told him he remained in her womb for 18 months, an unusually delayed delivery that caused alarm among relatives and led the family to seek traditional guidance after hospitals could offer no explanation. He said his mother was advised to eat a creature known in Yoruba as anta, described as smaller than a crocodile but shaped like a lizard, and that he was born within an hour of her doing so; he said his birth name derived from anta, and that he added an "r" to the spelling in primary school after classmates teased him about it.

Career

Laniyan began acting in 1981, and the first major role he played as a professional actor was the role of a "major general" in a film titled Everybody Wants to Know during his days at the Kakaki Art Squad. He has featured in several Nigerian films, including Sango, a film scripted by Wale Ogunyemi and produced by Obafemi Lasode. He was the director of the first episode of Super Story, the award-winning Nigerian soap opera produced by Wale Adenuga in the year 2000. He also directed Oh Father Oh Daughter and This Life, produced from the stable of Wale Adenuga Production.

Selected filmography

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Dele Odule, Antar Laniyan, Fathia Balogun others head breakaway Yoruba movie association". Nigeria News Today -NNT. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  2. ↑ "Antar Laniyan - Nigerian Entertainment Today - Nigeria's Number 1 Entertainment Daily". The NET. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "Home | West Africa Examination Council Nigeria". www.waecnigeria.org. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  4. ↑ "Why I don't drink, smoke or womanise – Antar Laniyan - Newswatch Times". Newswatch Times. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  5. ↑ Adekunle, Musa (6 December 2025). "I stayed 18 months in the womb, Antar Laniyan recounts birth story". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "My mother ate a lizard-like creature before I was born — Antar Laniyan". P.M. News. Lagos, Nigeria. 6 December 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  7. ↑ Adekunle, Musa (6 December 2025). "I stayed 18 months in the womb, Antar Laniyan recounts birth story". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Antar Laniyan Reveals Unusual Birth Story, Names Origin". The Nation. December 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "Most people think I'm gay -Antar Laniyan – Nigerian Tribune - Nollywood Express". Nollywood Express. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  10. ↑ "Mega Icon Magazine My Life Time Ambition- Antar Laniyan". Mega Icon Magazine. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  11. ↑ "Antar Laniyan - nigeriafilms.com". nigeriafilms.com. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  12. ↑ Lindfors, Bernth (2003). Black African Literature in English, 1997-1999. James Currey Publishers. ISBN 9780852555750. Retrieved 13 February 2015. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  13. ↑ "I AM ONLY INTERESTED IN TAPPING YOUR TALENT-----ANTAR LANIYAN". World News. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  14. ↑ "I was named after an animal - Antar Laniyan - Vanguard News". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 13 February 2015.