How the 1964 visit of Malcolm X to Nigeria deepened his connection to Africa and shaped his global vision of justice
In May 1964, one of the most influential figures of the 20th century, Malcolm X, set foot on Nigerian soil during a transformative journey across Africa and the Middle East. His visit was more than a diplomatic or cultural exchange — it was a spiritual homecoming, one that forged an enduring bond between the African-American struggle and the African continent.
The African Pilgrimage
Having recently left the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X embarked on a global tour that took him through Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and several other nations. This journey marked the rebirth of his worldview — from one rooted in racial separatism to a more inclusive call for global human rights.
Arriving from Egypt on May 6, 1964, Malcolm X was welcomed warmly in Nigeria. His presence captured the imagination of many students and intellectuals who saw him as a symbol of Black pride and resistance.
During his stay, he visited the University of Ibadan, where he addressed students about African unity, racial identity, and liberation. It was here that he was bestowed the Yoruba name “Omowale,” meaning “the child has returned home.”
Malcolm later recalled the moment with deep emotion:
> “When I was in Ibadan at the University of Ibadan last Friday night, the students there gave me a new name, Omowale, which they say means in Yoruba ‘The child has returned.’ It was an honor.”
The gesture resonated deeply with him — it symbolised his reconnection with the continent from which his ancestors had been torn centuries earlier.
Photographs from the visit show Malcolm X interacting with Nigerian students and intellectuals, including Iyabo Attah (left) and Ronke Ademola (right). The warmth of his reception and the intellectual exchange he experienced in Nigeria profoundly influenced his thinking.
At the University of Ibadan, Malcolm’s discussions revolved around pan-Africanism, the importance of solidarity between Africans and the African diaspora, and the need for unity in the fight against oppression.
His Nigerian hosts admired his fearlessness and eloquence, while he admired their pride in African identity and their commitment to independence and progress. The meeting between Malcolm and Nigerian students became a symbolic bridge linking African and African-American struggles for dignity and equality.
A Shift in Vision
Before his trip, Malcolm X’s activism had largely been framed within the context of Black nationalism in America. However, his experiences in Africa — particularly in Nigeria — reshaped his philosophy.
He began to see racism not as an isolated American issue but as part of a global system of oppression. Nigeria’s newly independent society, full of optimism and self-determination, inspired him to imagine a future where Africans and African descendants worldwide could stand united in political and spiritual strength.
Following his visit to Africa and his pilgrimage to Mecca, Malcolm embraced Sunni Islam and adopted the name El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. His message evolved to emphasise universal human rights, global justice, and solidarity among oppressed peoples.
Legacy of “Omowale”
Malcolm X’s visit to Nigeria remains one of the most historically significant connections between African-Americans and Nigeria. The name Omowale became not just a title but a symbol of return, reconciliation, and belonging.
In the years that followed, his life and assassination in 1965 inspired many Nigerian intellectuals, writers, and activists who viewed him as a brother whose journey completed the spiritual circle of the African diaspora.
Today, Malcolm X’s legacy continues to live in Nigeria — in classrooms, among civil rights advocates, and within the shared narrative of global Black identity. His 1964 visit stands as a timeless reminder that Africa is not only a geographical origin but a spiritual home for its scattered children.
References
ANTe Archives
The Autobiography of Malcolm X, as told to Alex Haley.
Nollywood actress Cynthia Anijekwu has made an emotional appeal to Nigerians for financial assistance after revealing that she is battling cancer for the second time.
In a video circulating on social media on Tuesday, the actress disclosed that she was first diagnosed with cancer in 2023, when she underwent surgery followed by chemotherapy in a bid to halt the disease.
She maintained that doctors initially managed the condition after the treatment, but the cancer later returned and has since spread to her bones, requiring more intensive care, including radiation therapy and another surgery.
According to Anijekwu, recent medical examinations revealed that the cancer has spread to her bones, significantly increasing the cost and complexity of her treatment up to N600,000 every month.
The actress said doctors have recommended radiation therapy and another surgery as part of her ongoing care.
“I have cancer in 2023 (sic). I did my surgery and took chemotherapy, but later it came back again. I’ve been in and out of the hospital. The doctor recently told me it has reached my bones, and the treatment is now much more expensive,” she said.
“I need to live. I need to survive. I’m asking Nigerians to please help me. Anyone that can help, please, I need help. Even my hands have swollen. The cancer has affected both breasts. I need to live. Please help me. I need to survive.
“Your one naira, your two naira can add up to something reasonable for me to get the proper treatment for this cancer. I’m begging you, please help me,” she pleaded.
Before her health challenge became public, Anijekwu built her career in Nollywood, featuring in several English- and Igbo-language productions.
However, there is no publicly verifiable record identifying a major blockbuster film or comprehensive filmography associated with the actress, as public attention has largely shifted to her battle with cancer in recent years.
The actress said the financial burden has become overwhelming for her family, prompting her to seek help from members of the public.
A masked Nigerian surrogate mother has opened up about how financial hardship and what she described as an irresponsible partner led her to become a surrogate, saying the decision came after the loss of her second child.
The woman disclosed this during a new episode on Cruise TV published on YouTube on Sunday, where she recounted the emotional, financial and psychological realities of carrying children for other families.
She said becoming a surrogate was one of the hardest decisions she had ever made, describing the emotional attachment that develops during pregnancy despite knowing the child does not belong to her.
“Emotionally it’s not easy. Even when I started the journey, when the pregnancy was three months, I called my nurse that I don’t think I can cope again because it’s not easy to carry what is not yours.
“When you start having the emotional attachment, you keep reminding yourself that this is not mine. I tell myself it is a job, and that helps me cope, but the emotions still come and go.”
The woman explained that she became a gestational surrogate through IVF, meaning she had no biological connection to the babies she carried.
Speaking on what pushed her into surrogacy, she said her partner failed to provide for the family despite her efforts to support them.
“I had my first child. Unfortunately, my husband is not the person that is hardworking and he doesn’t take responsibility. I do work. There is no work I cannot do.
“When I became pregnant the second time, I could no longer work. We couldn’t even afford hospital bills.”
She said complications during the pregnancy eventually led to the death of the baby, an experience that changed her outlook.
“That baby died, and that was the reason I made that decision. Instead of giving him another baby, I would rather help people who have the money to take care of me.
“If you don’t have the money to care for my health, I won’t do it for you.”
She disclosed that she initially declined financial compensation beyond medical care, accommodation and allowances, a decision she now regrets.
“I told them I didn’t want any compensation aside from the process, monthly allowance, wardrobe allowance and accommodation fee, but that was a mistake.
“I won’t do it again,” she said.
The surrogate mother also said she would not encourage her daughter to follow the same path because of the emotional and health risks involved.
“I cannot advise my daughter to be a surrogate.”
She added that she relocated during one of her pregnancies to avoid stigma and often told people the baby had died whenever they asked questions.
According to her, surrogate mothers also face psychological challenges after delivery despite undergoing counselling before and after childbirth.
While acknowledging that surrogacy has helped many couples struggling with infertility, she maintained that the process is far more demanding than many people realise.
“Surrogacy is not as simple as people think.”
She called for stronger regulation of the practice to protect surrogate mothers from exploitation and ensure adequate emotional and financial support.
Veteran Nollywood actor, Ricardo Agbor, has opened up about his 18-year journey to parenthood, revealing that he and his wife waited nearly two decades before welcoming their twins.
The actor disclosed this during an interview with AfricanAList published on Sunday, where he reflected on his marriage, faith and the challenges he faced before becoming a father.
Agbor said he remained committed to his wife throughout the period, despite the long wait for children.
“I wanted to get married to a particular lady; I married her regardless of where she is from. She is not from my tribe. So ordinarily, we were supposed to have strife; no, it was very fair,” he said.
Speaking about the couple’s struggle with childlessness, the actor said he specifically prayed for twins and refused to give up despite waiting for 18 years.
“It took 18 years for me to have the twins. And I waited. God knows, 18 years and they are 14 now, so I told God I wanted twins.
“So while that wait was on, if it were someone else, he would cross. But at the end of the day, I have twins. I have a boy and a girl. I asked God what I wanted,” he added.
Agbor also recounted what he described as the most painful experience of his life — the death of his mother.
According to him, she had been receiving treatment for about three weeks without any improvement before doctors advised that she should be flown to South Africa for further medical care.
The actor said his mother requested to be moved to another private hospital in Surulere, but she died in his arms while he was helping her into the car.
“My mom died right in my arms. At the hospital, they were bringing almost 10 doctors to do tests… the sickness was not improving after almost three weeks.
“It was after three weeks that they told me to come and carry my mom and take her to South Africa. I took my mom away and took her to another private hospital within Surulere. It was my mom that told me to take her away from that place. As I was carrying her into the car, she gave up,” he said.
Agbor said the loss left him devastated, noting that it was the first time he had cried outside acting.
“I think that was the first time I cried in my life. I don’t cry. If I cry, maybe it is in a movie and it is a role. So I cried. It was painful,” he added.
