Nigerian streets to be named for Malcolm X, Fela Kuti and others

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Nigerian streets to be named for Bob Marley, Malcolm X, others
Wed Oct 1, 2008

ABUJA (AFP) - Nigeria will re-name streets after music legends Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and Bob Marley, as well as Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, a minister said on Wednesday.

Names of some 80 streets in Nigeria's administrative capital are to be rebranded in coming days, some of them stripping off names of former military governors, the minister said.

Without specifying the ex-state governors whose names will be struck off roads in an Abuja suburb resided by legislators, Federal Capital Territory minister Aliyu Umar said some of the roads had been "inappropriately named".

"Some of the names have no relevance or affinity to our existence, history or culture," said Umar during a 48th independence anniversary parade.

For over half of the 48 years Nigeria has been independent from Britain, the country was run by military rulers.

"The occasion is to celebrate names which have contributed to Nigeria's democracy," he said.

The street naming exercise is to recognise literary icons such as Nobel laurete Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe.

Nigeria's famous afro musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and sport heroes Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo and Mary Onyali will have streets named after them.

The gesture was also extended to a leading opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar in his capacity as a former vice President.

Abubakar is currently challenging the election of President Umaru Yar'Adua in last year's disputed vote.

Streets will also be named after internationally renowned rights activists such as Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and Marcus Garvey.

"We honour Malcolm X, who taught black people to stand up for their dignity wherever they are, Rosa Parks who single-handedly confronted discrimination and Martin Luther King Jnr (whose) dream lives on," Umar said.

Also honoured are the late right activist and African nationalist Marcus Garvey and the late king of reggae music Bob Marley because "they are an integral part of our history and consciousness" .