Brian Bonitto, Acting Entertainment Editor

( L - R ) Garvey, Marley

Jamaica's first National Hero Marcus Garvey and reggae icon Bob Marley are among a group of 'positive people' who will have streets named after them in Nigeria.

According to an AFP report dated October 1 - the country's independence day - 80 streets in the city capital of Abuja are to be rebranded with names of persons who have contributed to Nigeria's democracy.

History and consciousness

The release quoted Federal Capital Territory minister Aliyu Umar saying that Garvey and Marley are "an integral part of our history and consciousness".

Umar, during a 48th independence anniversary parade, said some roads were "inappropriately named" as they had no relevance or affinity to Nigeria's "existence, history or culture".

Charles Eyo, head of Chancery at the Nigerian High Commission in Kingston, could not give a definitive date for the name change. He said both Garvey and Marley are popular in his country.

"They are highly regarded and ... are legends," Eyo told The Gleaner.

"Garvey fought for the political liberation of blacks.

"Marley's lyrics spoke volumes on freedom and love... it's universal," he added.

The diplomat said Marley's music has a wide following in Nigeria and is played regularly on radio. He named Survival as his favourite Marley album.

Survival is the 1979 album that includes songs such as So Much Trouble, Zimbabwe and Africa Unite.

Garvey and Marley were both born in St Ann. Garvey, who died in London in 1940, was an advocate for mass return of blacks to Africa.

Marley, who died in Miami in 1981, was a hero to African freedom fighters during the 1970s.

Nigerian streets will also be named after American civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X and Rosa Parks.

Not to be outdone are Nigerian writers, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe as well as sport heroes Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo and Mary Onyali.

Nigerian musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar will also be honoured.

Nigeria, officially named Federal Republic of Nigeria, is located in West Africa. It gained independence from Britain on October 1, 1960. The country was declared a republic on October 1, 1963.

brian.bonitto@gleanerjm.com