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Lagos, Nigeria - A city and chief port of Lagos State, Nigeria. Until 1975 it was the capital of Lagos State, and until December 1991 it was the federal capital of Nigeria. The topography of Lagos is dominated by its system of islands, sandbars and lagoons. The city itself sprawls over four main islands: Lagos, Iddo, Ikoyi and Victoria. The city in which Hakeem Olajuwon was born in 1963.

Lagos State - The team that represents the state of Lagos in the Nigerian national tournaments. Hakeem led Lagos State to the gold medal in team handball and basketball at the National Sports Festival at the University of Ibadan in 1978.

Languages - While growing up in Nigeria, Hakeem could speak five of them. English, the national language of Nigeria. The Yoruba dialect was spoken at his home and Hakeem could also coverse in the Ebo and Ekiti dialects. He also took a French language class at school.

Living the Dream - Hakeem's 1996 autbiography which he co-wrote with Peter Knobler.

Lewis, Guy - A star UH basketball player in the 1940s who then spent 30 years as the head coach of his alma mater. As his friend Christopher Pond was about to leave for Africa, Lewis told him that if he found a player, be sure to send him back to UH. He promised Pond that we would offer Hakeem a scholarship if he was as good as he had been described, which enabled Hakeem to travel to the United States. When Hakeem arrived in Houston, Lewis gave him a scholarship and immediately started molding him into a basketball player. Olajuwon described Lewis as a "motivator, a leader, a tough, tough man." Lewis called his star pupil the best shot blocker he had ever seen for his amazing ability to time shots.

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Malone, Moses - The summer after he won the 1981 NBA MVP award, Malone played against Olajuwon almost every day at Fonde Recreation Center. Hakeem credits Malone for helping him progress into a star player in a relatively short amount of time. He taught Hakeem to demand the ball and to be hungry for rebounds and blocked shots.

Mecca - A city in western Saudi Arabia, located in the Sirat Mountains. It is the holiest of Muslim cities. Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was born in Mecca, and it is toward this religious center that Muslims turn five times daily for prayer. All devout Muslims attempt a pilgrimage, or hajj, to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. Because it is sacred, only Muslims are allowed to enter the city. Hakeem first visited the city in 1991.

Mills, Richard - An American who traveled to Nigeria to coach basketball. He was named the head basketball coach of the Nigerian national sports coaching institute in the late 1970s and while in Nigeria changed his last name to "Olawale," which means "he returned home." Olawale was the first person to notice Hakeem's talents and to predict he would one day go to the United States to play basketball. He named Hakeem the captain of the Nigerian national junior team and had him practice with the national team to improve his game.

Most Valuable Player - Hakeem was the 1994 NBA Most Valuable Player; the 1994 and 1995 NBA Finals MVP; Most Outstanding Player of the 1983 NCAA Final Four; Most Valuable Player at the African junior national tournament in 1979.

Muslim Teachers College - The school Hakeem started attending when he was 13 years old. His first two years there he played goalie for the soccer team and was on the track team. His junior year the school was introduced to team handball and Hakeem was a natural at it.