Lifestyle

PHOTOS: Louise Norton Little: The Grenadian Mother of Malcolm X and Her Ancestral Roots in Nigeria

Published

5 months ago

October 26, 2025

Exploring the Nigerian heritage and enduring legacy of Louise Norton Little, the mother who shaped one of the most influential Black leaders of the 20th century.

Early Life and Ancestry

Louise Helen Norton Little was born in Grenada in the late 19th century, at a time when the scars of slavery still marked the Caribbean landscape. Her lineage tells a remarkable story of displacement, resilience, and the enduring strength of African heritage.

Her mother, Edith, was the daughter of two captured Nigerians who were illegally sold into slavery despite the British Empire’s abolition of the slave trade in the early 1800s. These ancestors were believed to have been taken from what is now Nigeria, possibly from one of the Yoruba or Igbo communities along the West African coast.

This Nigerian connection placed Louise Little’s family among thousands in the Caribbean whose African heritage remained deeply embedded in oral history and cultural practices. Edith’s marriage to a Scotsman symbolised the complex intersections of African and European ancestry that characterised much of the Caribbean’s colonial history.

Heritage and Migration

Growing up in Grenada, Louise Norton Little was raised in a household where discipline, independence, and self-worth were paramount. Her Nigerian ancestry, passed down through her mother’s stories, gave her a strong sense of African pride.

As a young woman, Louise moved to Canada and later to the United States, where she became involved in social and political activism. Her transnational background — bridging Africa, the Caribbean, and North America — would later influence her children’s global view of race, freedom, and identity.

Marriage and Family Life

Louise married Earl Little, a Baptist minister and activist closely associated with Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). The Garvey movement, with its message of Black pride and Pan-Africanism, aligned perfectly with the values Louise had inherited from her Nigerian and Grenadian roots.

Together, Louise and Earl Little raised eight children, among them Malcolm Little, who would later become known as Malcolm X — one of the most powerful voices in the global struggle for Black liberation.

Their household in Omaha, Nebraska, and later in Lansing, Michigan, was marked by both hope and hardship. Louise taught her children about self-reliance, education, and the importance of knowing one’s heritage — lessons that would shape Malcolm X’s philosophy throughout his life.

Influence on Malcolm X

Louise’s impact on her son Malcolm cannot be overstated. In his autobiography, Malcolm X described his mother as a proud, strong, and intelligent woman who instilled in him an early awareness of Black dignity and identity.

Her stories about Africa, including her mother’s Nigerian ancestry, formed the foundation of Malcolm’s understanding of his roots. This connection to Nigeria — through his maternal grandmother Edith — gave Malcolm X a tangible sense of African belonging long before he ever set foot on the continent.

When Malcolm X visited Africa in 1964, meeting leaders from Nigeria, Ghana, and Egypt, it was more than a political journey — it was a spiritual return to his ancestral homeland. The values his mother taught him — pride, self-discipline, and defiance against oppression — echoed the strength of his Nigerian lineage.

Challenges and Resilience

After the death of her husband, Earl Little, under suspicious circumstances, Louise faced immense hardship. The family suffered from poverty and discrimination, and eventually, she was institutionalised for mental health treatment for many years.

Despite this tragedy, her legacy endured through her children, who carried forward her teachings of perseverance, unity, and racial pride. Louise’s life embodied the struggle of African-descended women who preserved their dignity in the face of systemic injustice.

Cultural and Historical Significance

Louise Norton Little’s story bridges Africa, the Caribbean, and the United States, illustrating how the African diaspora retained its cultural strength despite centuries of displacement. Her Nigerian ancestry links her family to the broader history of the transatlantic slave trade, through which millions of Africans were taken from the coasts of West Africa — including present-day Nigeria — to the Americas.

In Nigerian historical memory, such connections are a reminder of the shared heritage that binds African peoples across continents. Today, Louise Little’s descendants, through Malcolm X’s legacy, continue to inspire global conversations about identity, justice, and the enduring power of African consciousness.

Legacy

Louise Norton Little passed away in 1989, but her influence remains immortal through her son Malcolm X and the ongoing global recognition of his message. Her emphasis on African pride and cultural awareness laid the foundation for one of the most transformative movements in modern history.

Through her, the Nigerian spirit — embodied in the resilience, intellect, and dignity of her ancestors — found new expression in a family that redefined the struggle for Black freedom.

References

The Autobiography of Malcolm X (as told to Alex Haley), 1965

Manning Marable, Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention (2011)

BBC News Archives: “Malcolm X’s Mother and the Caribbean Connection”

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Lifestyle

World Sleep Day: Doctors advise adults to sleep seven to nine hours daily

Published

14 hours ago

March 13, 2026

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Medical experts have advised adults to get between seven and nine hours of sleep daily to maintain good physical and mental health.

A Consultant Family and Lifestyle Medicine Physician, Dr Moyosore Makinde, gave the advice on Friday in Lagos while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria to mark World Sleep Day.

Makinde, who is also the President of the Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigeria, said adequate sleep plays a vital role in maintaining overall wellbeing, productivity and long-term health.

The 2026 World Sleep Day, themed “Sleep Well, Live Better,” is dedicated to raising awareness about sleep’s critical role in human health and encouraging individuals to adopt healthier sleep habits.

Makinde explained that recommended sleep duration varies by age, noting that while adults require fewer hours, infants and children need longer sleep periods for proper development and overall well-being.

Citing World Health Organisation stipulations, Makinde recommended seven to nine hours of restorative sleep for adults above 18, explaining that infants and children required significantly longer sleep duration.

She decried the high level of sleep deprivation among the populace, noting many people failed to get adequate sleep daily, a situation she warned could negatively affect health, safety and well-being.

Makinde said the fast pace of modern life often left little time for rest, urging Nigerians to deliberately prioritise sleep by creating time for proper rest, relaxation and recovery daily.

She attributed sleep deprivation to multiple factors, including health challenges, lack of time, social media addiction, poor sleeping environments, unhealthy sleep positions, and demanding daily schedules aimed at survival.

According to Makinde, prolonged sleep deprivation increases risks of accidents, judgment errors, workplace mistakes, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity, overweight, and certain cancers, including breast and prostate.

“Sleeping well in order to live better is not a myth. Sleep remains one of the most powerful yet often neglected pillars of health and well-being in modern society.

“To maintain good health, adults should have seven to nine restorative hours of sleep per day.

“Infants require up to 16 to 17 hours of sleep, while pre-school and school-age children need up to 13 hours and 12 hours, respectively, for proper brain development,” Makinde added.

According to her, sleep is as important as the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe.

“It is a natural state of rest and a period when the body repairs itself physiologically, restoring energy, strengthening immunity and supporting overall bodily functions.

“Amid the hustle and bustle of work, study and business, particularly in Lagos, Nigerians need to prioritise sleep.

“In doing so, we are also prioritising our health,” she said.

Contributing, a psychiatrist and therapist, Dr Maymunah Kadiri, described sleep as “an integral part of mental well-being,” stressing its critical role in maintaining psychological balance.

Kadiri, also Medical Director of Pinnacle Medical Services, explained that good sleep improved concentration, enhanced brain performance and contributed positively to overall cognitive functioning and emotional stability.

She noted that adequate sleep supported cognitive processes and helped reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, making it an essential component of maintaining good mental health.

According to her, healthy sleep goes beyond hours spent in bed, noting that it involves adequate duration, good sleep quality that is uninterrupted and refreshing, and a consistent sleep schedule.

“Sleep significantly benefits mental health. During a good night’s sleep, the brain gets rest and all the nutrients it needs.

“A person who enjoys long-term good sleep develops improved stress resistance. Brain function improves, and the risk of cognitive disorders is significantly reduced over time.

“Sleep has a direct impact on mental health and its quality. It helps process emotions and alleviates stress as well as negative feelings,” Kadiri said.

NAN

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Lifestyle

Comedian Broda Shaggy hospitalised after alleged shooting

Published

14 hours ago

March 13, 2026

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Popular comedian, skit maker and social media influencer, Samuel Perry, popularly known as Broda Shaggy, has been hospitalised after he was allegedly shot in the Sango-Ota area of Ogun State, PUNCH Metro has learnt.

It was gathered that the incident occurred under the Sango-Ota bridge on Sunday afternoon.

Although the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear, a police source who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the matter said the content creator sustained the gunshot injury while filming a comedy skit at the location.

According to the source, Broda Shaggy was immediately rushed to the Blooming Care Hospital in the Alakuko area of Lagos State, where he received initial treatment.

“He was shooting a skit under the Sango-Ota bridge when he sustained a gunshot injury. We don’t have details on how it happened yet, but his crew members who were present quickly rushed him to the hospital,” the source said.

The source added that medical personnel at the hospital administered first aid upon his arrival.

Further findings by PUNCH Metro, however, revealed that he was later referred to Duchess Hospital in the Government Residential Area, Ikeja, where he is currently recuperating.

Efforts by our correspondent to reach both hospitals were unsuccessful, as calls made to the contact numbers listed on their social media pages did not connect. A text message sent to them had yet to be replied to as of the time of filing this report.

When contacted on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the development, noting that the police were alerted by the hospital.

“The hospital contacted the police to report that a gunshot victim had been brought to their facility. Detectives and a patrol team were immediately mobilised to the hospital, where they discovered that the victim was a skit maker and social media influencer popularly known as Broda Shaggy.

“He was seen on a stretcher with an injury to his thigh. The location of the incident is in Sango-Ota and not within our jurisdiction, but the investigation is ongoing,” she said.

When contacted for further clarification, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the incident had not been reported to the police in the state.

“The incident was alleged to have occurred in Ogun State, but it was not reported,” he said.

Broda Shaggy’s manager, Olufemi Oguntamu, also known as Penzaar, did not respond to calls made to his phone. A text message sent to him had yet to be replied to as of the time of filing this report.

PUNCH Metro recalls that in October 2024, a popular content creator, Afeez Ojesanmi, popularly known as Salo, was reportedly robbed of his jewellery and shot around the Lekki axis of Lagos State.

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Lifestyle

Nollywood actress Sarah Martins apologises for roadside cooking

Published

3 days ago

March 11, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Nollywood actress Sarah Martins has formally responded to the Lagos State Government’s warning regarding her recent public cooking activity, clarifying that the event was an emotional reconnection with vulnerable children rather than a deliberate breach of environmental laws.

The response comes after the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, on Saturday, cautioned the actress against cooking on public roads, warning that she risks arrest and prosecution if she continues the practice.

In an open letter posted on her Instagram handle on Sunday, Martins, the founder of the Sarah Martins Golden Heart Foundation, sought to set the record straight, stating that the meal was prepared in a controlled environment.

“I would like to respectfully clarify that I did not cook on the walkway or on the main street.

“The meal was prepared in front of the King’s Palace under the supervision of security personnel, and the activity took place very far from the main road, ensuring that it did not obstruct movement or create any public nuisance,” she wrote.

Explaining the motivation behind the act, the actress described it as a response to the pleas of street children she frequently encounters.

“The visit was simply born out of an emotional moment. I had deeply missed the bond I share with the vulnerable street children in that area,” she explained.

“As I occasionally drive past that axis, the children often plead with me to come back and cook with them like I used to. On this particular day, I decided to spend some time with them and prepare a meal, purely to reconnect and create memories with the kids who have always shown me genuine love,” she added.

The actress offered an apology to the state government for any perceived impropriety, saying, “My brief return to that location was never intended to create any form of public nuisance, but simply to share a heartfelt moment with children who have continued to ask for my presence.

“However, if my actions were perceived as inappropriate in any way, I sincerely apologide. I hold the laws and environmental standards of Lagos State in the highest regard.

“Going forward, I will ensure that all cooking activities are carried out strictly within the charity kitchen provided for the foundation.”

In her response, Martins also expressed gratitude to Seyi Tinubu, the President’s son, noting that his donation of a charity kitchen was specifically intended to ensure her feeding programs are conducted in a proper and organised environment, which she said her foundation remains committed to using.

PUNCH Online reports that Martins was arrested in October 2025 by KAI officials while she was cooking on a road median in Lekki, seizing her equipment.

The Lagos State Government defended the operation, with Wahab stating that the actress had engaged in unauthorised activities on public infrastructure in contravention of environmental and sanitation regulations.

While she previously claimed to have received ₦20 million from his office, Seyi Tinubu reportedly denied making the donation personally, saying some friends, moved by compassion, had raised funds to help her secure a proper space for her charity work, but stressed that he did not support any act that violated Lagos State laws.

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