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Kannywood Movie Review: There's a Way

God bless the dichotomy between the rich and the poor, or as the socialists call it: the gap between the lower, the bourgeoisies and the upper classes. If it did not exist, the arts would, perhaps, have to invent one for stories to have conflict, upon which many films, novels, dramas, etc rely to intrigue us. This has been the trend since the Victorian Age, or before, with Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist down to Femi Osofisan’s Marxist-influenced plays, and so on and so forth. Class consciousness is sadly here to stay with us. Hausa film industry is equally not short of films based on this global theme. There’s a Way is just another addition to that archive, though in a new style: its language is no longer the ‘local’ Hausa one but the global English. This is one of the reasons why I had to preview the film prior to its release. As I said in the preview, numerous Hausa films are flagrantly, poorly subtitled in wrong English. The subtitles oftentimes serve a contrary purpose: those with little or no grasp of Hausa language end up puzzled. The shoddy subtitles also expose the educational level of the people in the industry, and by and large, their region. Worse still, the actors, in other times, use ‘Eng-ausa’, a hotchpotch English-Hausa code-switching and mixing. But all that will soon be a history with the emergence of the second (Wasila [English version] is actually the first ever, but that was done more than a decade ago) Kannywood film in ‘Standard’ English language. (Warning: this section contains spoilers) There’s a Way does not only present the lower and upper classes struggle; the predatory nature of some university dons is equally bared. As a token, the women issue is not left untouched, thus it is used to set the story afloat. The film opens from a court scene where a woman, abused by her husband, is questioned by the judge. The husband allegedly forces her to abort pregnancies six times. Isham (Nuhu Abdullahi), as a secondary student, witnesses the hearing and becomes interested to study Law in order to assist the poor such as the wife who is evidently harmed. His dream is not meant to be realized easily. After failing his exams at least twice, Isham, a curious boy from a poor family does not have money to register at a “miracle centre”, where candidates register for exams and “nobody ever fails”. He someday accompanies his friend to the centre and mistakenly bumps into Fadila (Hajara Jalingo), whose father gives her a hundred thousand naira (N100, 000) to register at the centre. The ‘accident’ is love at first sight. Days, perhaps months, pass, and then destiny brings them together as students of the same university. While her father every so often warns her against mingling with anyone from poor family, Isham and his two siblings are orphans raised by their sick mother. As expected, Fadila’s father, Alhaji Mahdi (Sani Mu’azu) someday finds out that she has invited Isham to the house, though with the consent of her mother. He blasts them and chases Isham out. He asks his old friend, Dr. Bello (Umar Malumfashi), a lecturer at Isham’s university, to find ways to punish him. Coincidently, Dr. Bello is already at loggerhead with Isham over a protest the latter organizes against the sale of handout. Unknown to Alhaji, however, is that his friend has once tried to sleep with his daughter. Finally, Isham is framed and subsequently expelled. He is soon consoled and offered a sponsorship by Fadila to study in any southern Nigerian university he can get admitted into. Alhaji Mahdi tries to marry Fadila off to her cousin whom he fosters at his house and sends abroad for studies. She rebuffs. Isham returns and his relationship with Fadila is soon rejuvenated. The lady Dr. Bello used in framing Isham asks him for her payment. He refuses and thus she threatens to expose him. And, in the final scene, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) arrests Alhaji Mahdi for an undisclosed crime. But for a few slips, I would rate the film 4 out of 5. It goes with something a little bit below that score. The blunders responsible for this discredit include the use of pretentious lines in some scenes like where Fadila and Isham first meet. Although it is meant to express love, the language is too flowery and such is barely used for verbal communication. Go and watch even the BBC productions, and you will never come across something similar. This beside, the film breaks a new ground as the first (or second, if you like) Kannywood film completely rendered in English. The grammar is virtually faultless save only in some instances in the subtitle. All the casts try their best possible in internalizing their lines. It is only the character of El-Mustapha who speaks quite unnaturally. Moreover, the same voice of supposedly the executive producer of the film is used at least three times, by different characters. The dubbing could have been better and more lip-synched had the casts tried even if their English is not polished as such. And lastly, although Light and Darkness, another film to be released by the same company, is said to be the sequel to There’s a Way, the resolution of the story is at best hanging and at worst outrageous. Having just a sleepless night over a threat, which could be empty, by the lady Dr. Bello hires to frame his victims is so much insufficient as a punishment to him. The same goes to Alhaji Mahdi; his arrest by the EFCC says so little after all his humiliation and sheer disgust of the poor. The film is about the endurance of the human spirit, true love and the exposition of some social vices in our societies and schools. No doubt, it was technically carefully shot; the cinematography is almost spotless. The lighting appropriately fits the ambiance. The casts, as mentioned earlier, perform very well, especially Isham and the debutant, Fadila, among others. This credit must be shared among all the crew with the director, Falalu Dorayi and the executive producer, Kabiru Jammaje taking plump shares. Written by: Muhsin Ibrahim, Bayero University, Kano Email: muhsin2008@gmail.com Twitter: @muhsin234

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Dinner Pictures From Rahama Hassan’s Wedding

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Kamu Day Pictures From Rahama Hassan’s Wedding

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Kauyawa Day Pictures From Rahama Hassan's Wedding

Rahama Hassan's Wedding program kick started with Kauyawa day in Suleja, Naija State. Many Kannywood's ex actresses grace the wedding. Here are the pictures from the fun filled event 

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Kannywood Stars Share New Year Resolution

It's 2017,  and as a common New Year traditions, most people make make vows to accomplish one or two goals or resolve to change an undesired trait or behavior in their lives. We've asked Kannywood stars to tell us their new year resolution....  Ali Nuhu... "Boosting the marketing wings of FKD Productions" Nafisat Abdullahi... "Marriage..... " Yakubu Muhammad... " I'll stop thinking too much and avoid anything that will keep me away from positivity " Rahama Sadau..."Spend more time with people that matter, doing what matters."  Nuhu Abdullahi..." Overcome a fear, be sincere about punctuality and commitments" Baballe Hayatu... "May peace and happiness be with everybody. May peace reign and recession be a thing of the past in Nigeria. May Kannywood business boom in 2017. By: Ibrahim Umar Bello  Twitter :@aaramz

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Movie Review - HIJIRA

Director: Iliyasu Abdulmumini Tantiri Producer: Naziru Dan Hajiya Story: Iliyasu Abdulmumini Tantiri Language: Hausa Year: 2016 Company: Kumo Production Introduction The Hijra (migration/exodus) of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his companions from Makkah to Madinah is an epoch in the history of Islam. It is featured notably in the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet. Although the Prophet was born and raised in Makkah and had preached for many years there, persecution forced him along with the few that believed him to migrate. The Islamic Hijri calendar began from that time. The choice of the title for the film cannot be unconnected to the Prophet’s Hijra. Oftentimes, the bond between cinema and the orthodox religious and cultural institutions is marked by disquiet. Many people reject film, seeing it as a subtle way to debase their religion and culture. Presentations of bedroom scene, or virtually anything denoting sex or other tabooed subjects, for instance, are still frown at in Kannywood. Several filmmakers are, therefore, relentless in their efforts to counter this argument, to correct the (mis)conception. Some have gone far and recently adapted the famous story of As-Habul Kahfi (The Seven Sleepers) from the Qur’an. There are quite a number of other films meant for Islamic evangelism. The epic drama, Hijira is arguably one of such. Plot Summary The film is a mixture of a quite romantic comedy and adventure. It begins from a scene of mass burial of the victims of an infectious plague that ravages the village of Madaci. As they bury some corpses, more are brought forward. The King calls for an emergency meeting. There is disagreement as to whether to stay in the town or leave. The Chief Imam is of the opinion that everyone should remain, basing his point with the Islamic injunction that says when there is a an outbreak of plague in a land, nobody should enter it; and if the plague breaks out in a place one lives in, do not leave. The King accepted this, thus goes, along with other chiefs, to address the townspeople. While addressing the townspeople, a member of the village, Bala comes with a sad story that the plague has finished ravaging the neighboring villages and has spread to Madaci. Asked how he came to know about that, he said he is from there and has seen corpses all around. He is thus instructed to stay back; he refuses. The Sarkin Yaki (i.e. Chief Guard) kills him. The remains of Bala is said to be very deadly as it should not be touched by anyone, and its decomposition will equally harm all. The King, therefore, has a quick change of mind and, there and then, declares the start of the exodus. The execution of Bala is a can of worms. His mother vows to avenge him by imploring his choleric brother, Zubabu to slay Sarkin Yaki whenever and however he gets a chance. Other conflicts include the thievish and snobbish nature of the Prince; the love triangle between Rabo and Chiko where both love Saratu, a beautiful girl who is betrothed to the latter. An acerbic, old man called Baba Manga, on the other side, openly objects the exodus and fearlessly criticizes the King. As the migration begins, mistrust, rancor, conflict, artificial and natural disasters envelop the migrants. A group of bandits launches a fatal attack on them. Chiko murders Rabo. Saratu avenges her heartthrob by getting married to Chiko only to stab him to death on their first night. The Prince poisons the King, takes charge and sacks Sarkin Yaki. Zubabu challenges Sarkin Yaki in a physical combat and loses. Terrible epidemic and deadly spirits descend on the other migrants, and kill many. Gambo, the town’s physician tries his best possible but to no avail. Finally, the remaining few reach a town but its border guards deny them entry. Famine and wild animals devour them, including the Sarkin Yaki. Only a single child, the narrator of the story, survived. Critique The star-studded film, Hijira was apparently a big project, planned in a span of months or more, and carefully directed and produced. The casting largely fits, the narrative sequentially connected, the mise en scene presented well, and so on and so forth. The filmmakers and the actors of Hijira can’t be easily forgotten in the film industry. As with any film, nay, everything else, Hijira has some imperfections. For instance, the story is told through an omniscient point of view, but in the end a narrator (a different point of view called restricted) is introduced. The narrator should have said at least a line from the beginning, to let spectators know that the film is actually a narration. Likewise, the makeup and the special effects leave much to be desired. First, you cannot have all the victims of a war with wounds on their neck or head only and no any other part of their bodies. Second, the scene where some spirits descend on the migrants looks so much artificial. Other contextual mistakes include the mass grave scene. The people burying the dead use their bare hands. The least experienced person knows that the remains of the victims of any contagious disease are not touched with uncovered hands. This, even in the film, is soon contradicted as the Madaci townspeople are cautioned to not have any body contact with anyone infected with the disease. This is, in fact, the reason why they had to migrate, to run as far away as they can from the dead body of Bala. From the religious perspective, the character of Gambo betrays the possible idea of the film. Doubtless, it is a common practice among the traditional doctors to use incantation and invocation, showing Gambo doing the same is incongruous. His medicine should be Islamic-compliant to corroborate the points already highlighted by the character of the chief imam who uphold the virtues of Muslims. Verdict The trio of forced marriage, gender rivalry, and singing and dancing are the usual elements of Kannywood films. Hijira, however, defy this straitjacketing by avoiding all the three, for the aim is to proselytise Islam and to caution the faithful on the adherence to the Prophet’s sayings. There have been similar films before it such as Ga Duhu Ga Haske (dir. Aminu Saira, 2011), Yankin Imani (dir. Imran S.I Ashir, 2013), Ana Muslim (dir. Abubakar S. Shehu, 2014), and, above all, As-Habul Kahf (dir. Aminu Saira, 2013). Yet, none is without song and dance – the practice generally condemned as caricaturing Hindi cinema – as Hijira is. Apparently, both the precepts of Hausa culture and Islam are considered and safeguarded in addition to the film’s being very likely original. Therefore, the few content and technical lapses cannot take away all its other credits. The film is by and large worth your naira. I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. Reviewed by: Muhammad Muhsin Ibrahim, Dept. of Theatre and Performing Arts Bayero University, Kano; muhsin2008@gmail.com From: muhsin.in

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Call For Entries To The 2016 AMMA Awards Season 4

The organizers of AMMA Awards,  CEMS Nigeria, is annoucing the call for entries in to the Amma Awards 2016. Organized each year since 2013, The Arewa Music and Movie Awards is aimed at celebrating the outstanding achievements of Arewa talent in movie, music, TV and Radio. New awards  like the Best Original Screenplay, Adapted Screenplay and Short Film were introduced under the movie category in the fourth season of the award to comply with the International standard. Rookie artist of the year, Music Producer roots and contemporary are the new awards under the music category.  The fourth season will award artist in 45 categories, 24 categories for movie, 13 for music and 8 people's choice category meant for online vote. Awards will also be given to the best entertaining programs on television and radio as well as media stations who offered great support to AMMA from from it's inception  in 2016. Entries in movies,  music or any project must be original or professionally adopted. Production companies, Artist and producers wishes to participate  should pick their entry forms at Aisha Discounted Electronics,  No. 4 Zoo Road, Opposite First Bank, Kano. 

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MADADI  Audition Gives You The Chance To Become an Actor

Do you want to become an actor? Well, here's your chance to become one. Capital Visions will audition for their upcoming Hausa TV series MADADI. The audition is open to anyone who wants to participate.  All you have to do is click on MADADI AUDITION and register.  The audition will hold on the 26th-27th of November. 

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Q&A With Nafisa Abdullahi

You were off social media recently, what have you been doing? I've been working on my new Boutique, it's finally open but not officially tunda a lot of things are still coming in.  You talk about no sisterhood in the industry after Rahma debacle, care to add something on that?   I was clearly misunderstood,I'm not saying what happened to her was good..actually the decision was too harsh.. But it's still none of my business  Zee Zee responded to you,  have you seen it?  I've forgotten who that person is, so truly I haven't seen anything about what she has to say, is she an artist too? What's Moppan to you?  Ermm that's a tough question, but I'll just say they're an organization who are trying to do good by the industry  Is Maryam Booth your best friend in the industry now?  We've been seeing your pictures a lot on instagram lately  Lol, we have a lot of joint businesses right now, so you'll see us more often than before..she knows how to do business  Are you in relationship with Nazir Ahmad Hausawa (@Ziriums)?  Ahhahaha! Chaii, kuma? No!! Ziriums is a very dear friend to me,and I cherish that friendship  Is Ibrahim Shehu (@ibrhym) your friend too, now?  Lol!  Ibrahim will always be special... We're more like a family now. Why is there so much speculation about your relationship?  Haha I guess it's because I've been Silent for a long time now and people don't really know what's going on with me  So what’s on your plate right now? My new film Project!!! Describe your dreamboy  Someone who puts everything about me first! someone who deeply loves my family....and I've found that person♥️♥️♥ And who's that lucky person?  I'll allow everyone to keep speculating kawai  Are you commitment-phobic?  No...I am fully committed to any relationship I'm in Do you have any phobia? Fear of heights and water....as in ruwa sosai bawai Na pool ba One thing people have wrong about you? That I'm so egocentric  What do you love about being an actress? That I'm always surrounded by talented and inspiring people...thats what I love One role you wish you could have done Honestly, I don't know! Maybe a role of a badass tomboy girl  How do you react when your co-star flirts with you? Don't get me wrong, but I go with the flow...it's just flirting right? no harm in that If you were to bump into your ex when you’re with your current boyfriend… what would you do?  I would say hi,introduce them both and move on with whatever it is I'm doing. What's the craziest thing you have done in love? Tried to jump out of a moving vehicle😂😂😂..that's so crazy,been thinking of why I wanted to do that😂ever since Can we say that right now you are in a very happy space personally and professionally? Isn't that obvious?😂💕yes I am very happy and I thank God for everthing🙏 Is there any woman who inspires you a lot? Yes!!!it has to be Deepika Padukone Friendship to you is… Sacrificing you happiness to stay in it. If one song could describe your life, which one would it be? 'RISE' by Katty perry Favourite romantic song… Autumn leaves...Chris Brown ft Kendrick Lamar Do you enjoy wearing own make-up? It's a 60/40 for me....I do makeup but I prefer me without makeup  What garment makes you feel ‘body confident’? You might be surprised but I feel very comfortable in a gown (abaya). Which colleague inspires you the most when it comes to style?  Ali Nuhu. Describe yourself in five words  I can only give 2.....stubborn and simple Which football team do you support?  Real Madrid Do you belong to the Kitchen, Living Room and The Other Room?  Hahahah 😂😂hell no....at least for now By: Ibrahim Umar Bello  Email: iubello50@gmail.com Twitter : @aaramz  

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Akon,  Jeta Amata Invite Rahama Sadau To Hollywood

Popular singer Akon and Jeta Amata have invited Rahama Sadau to visit their film set in Los Angeles, California, where they are working on a project which will take them to Senegal, South Africa and Nigeria in December.  Considered one of the most successful filmmakers to come out of West Africa after his first work went global he produced a documentary film for the BBC in 2003. The producer of Alexa Affair, Amazing Grace and Black November posted in his twitter feed that he's looking forward to seeing Rahama in Hollywood. 

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Ali Nuhu - Rahma's Ban Was Too Harsh

In an interview with the Daily Trust, the King of Kannywood said that MOPPAN's decision to expelled Rahama Sadau from the industry was too harsh.  He said that Rahama violated Kannywood's codes of conduct by holding ClassiQ's hands and falling on his back in the music video but adviced that a lesser punishment would have sufficed.  "I don't think she should be banned. Maybe a suspension. There are situations where people create big things out of small ones. That is why before deciding to do something, one needs to think. I would advise that in the future when things like this happen, they deliberate amongst themselves and maybe call in a few others in the industry before making it public. People do things in an organization and are suspended or given queries, but these organizations won't go to the media and announced it. It was blown out of proportion," Ali Nuhu added.  He also said that MOPPAN are not biased, those pictures people are sharing on social media are from his old Nollywood films long before the code of conduct came in to light. 

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Rahama Sadau, MOPPAN and the Unending Saga

She knew it. She knew what she was up against. She knew it would come down to this. She couldn’t have acted out of ignorance. A woman born and brought up in the north knows her people’s deep afflictions towards their religion. She knows how culturally bound her people are. She knows too, that slightest betrayal to culture and religion wouldn’t pass unnoticed especially if the perpetrator is female. She knows that the public is already not happy with the conducts of the northern film industry. The industry, despites efforts to blend, is still perceived and treated as alien. She knows that the industry is still largely regarded as the devil workshop whose sole existence is ensuring that our values are debased. About a month ago, the federal government had to stop a proposed film village on accounts of excessive rants and screams echoed by clerics and the public. A cleric even vowed to march from Kano to Abuja to protest the proposal, an endeavor he termed “Jihad”. Those fierce words and agitations couldn’t have escaped her. If one could be willing to go that extreme length over flimsy footages and hearsays, I wonder what he could do when he sees an actress holding and hugging a musician he considers an agent of the devil. She knows that greater proportion of her audience disapproves of such acts. At least they deserve some respect. I think it is a duty of an artist to entertain his/her audience’s culture and norms even if he/she doesn’t believe them. What about the apologists and spectators who wish to see artists on the same stance as the most respected personalities in the society. Isn’t this sand in their eyes?   One would think she learnt her lessons. Not long ago she was involved in a controversy in which she made an image-tarnishing and career-ending accusation against actor Adam A Zango that the actor had tried to sleep with her. She quickly branded her actions as thoughtless, motivated by childish whispers. This time her reaction is a defense not an apology in anyway, for it carry no shades of remorse. She still believes and insists she didn’t “cross” the line and that touching the opposite sex is inevitable in her line of work. To rephrase: she considers grievances labeled against her uncalled-for and that she didn’t do anything wrong.   More so, her tweeter timeline carries tweets of sympathizers  who think that  culture is dynamic and whoever thinks deliberate contact with the opposite sex is wrong is archaic and should upgrade. Of course, people slip here and there, but this isn’t exactly the kind of reaction I expect from her. She knew it. When it was announced that she was to figure in a Nollywood film, concerns were raised whether she could be able to stay unadulterated. She gave out an interview assuring fans and well-wishers that she wouldn’t cross the line. She knew what people’s concerns were and she knew the impression she left when she said she wouldn’t cross the line. She knew her recent action crossed the line. Yet, she pretended otherwise. She knew she violated her words, yet she stamped the popular adage, “actions are based on intentions."  Seriously? The first stage of an apology is admission, that was an assertion.   And while I believe she should face disciplinary actions, I think expulsion is an overreaction. To begin with, Rahma Sadau is truly a definition of an artist (minus her susceptibility to controversy of course). She is motivated, passionate, enthusiastic, lively, extremely glamorous and humble, even. Within three years, she has established herself as a force to reckon with. She has added sparks and glamour to the industry. She has an outstanding followership and media presence. She is fast becoming the face of the industry. Her expulsion could hurt the industry in number of ways.     The Motion Pictures Practitioners of Nigeria (MOPPAN), on the other hand, has been consistently inconsistent and unprofessional. Shortly after announcing the expulsion, social media became flooded with pictures of male artists in “locked situations" with actresses, a posture more repugnant than hers. Yet, those artists were not suspended, or even cautioned. One could argue that she was simply following the footsteps of those “other” artists. Were they punished, this incidence wouldn’t have happened.  Just recently, the actress was seen hugging fellow Kannywood actor in Super Story series but MOPPAN was mum. One couldn’t help but start thinking whether MOPPAN doesn’t have the gut to punish those other artists.    The most interesting thing about MOPPAN is that, they have never made the codes of conduct governing the affairs of Kannywood industry known to public or even the artists. This is confirmed by Ibrahim TY Shaba in his recent interview with Rariya. He said that  actors have never received any guidelines governing what to do or not to do in Kannywood.  This is of course not an excuse for any actor to do whatever they want but it's damning for the body tasked to monitor the affairs of a film industry.   This could be the reason why no one has ever respected their decision in the industry. They've tried banning other actors before including Rahma Sadau only to go back and reverse the decision because no one would actually serve the ban. Rahma in particular had an overwhelming support from the entire industry the last time she was banned. Producers and Directors "publicly" announced that they wouldn't respect the ban. Nafisat Abdullahi was also banned before her, but the ban only led to her films being seen more frequently by the audience.   You wonder what MOPPAN is actually doing. Our discussion with some actors led us to the fact that most current Kannywood actors are not even MOPPAN registered members and hence, there exists no any signed agreement between most artists and the body on how they should conduct themselves offscreen. You wonder how come MOPPAN keeps issuing bans.    Come to think of it, the general public have no idea who MOPPAN is, who are its leaders, what they do or what really is their role in Kannywood- some people within the industry also don't. They have no webiste, zero media presence, people don't know the extent of MOPPAN jurisdictions. MOPPAN only surfaces on the media when an artist is banned. Their recent handling of this issue raises more concerns. They are always quick to jump to expelling without thinking of the outcome.          The whole incident has been a series of bad actions and reactions. From Rahma's immodest action, to MOPPAN's lousy overreaction to her remorseless apology. Let's hope they both learn from it.

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MOPPAN Expelled Rahma Sadau from Kannywood

Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN) Kano State chapter has expelled actress Rahma Sadau from Kannywood. The action was taken after Rahama was featured hugging musician ClassiQ in a controversial music video 'I love You' MOPPAN secretary, Salisu Muhammad explained that Rahma's actions violated the moral conduct of the Kannywood Industry. He also mentioned that a committee has been set up to listen to any complains from producers Rahma is currently working with. We are trying to reach Rahma, who is currently in india for comments.

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Laffhub Offers Free Subscription to Hausa Comedy Videos

Laffhub.com is the number one video comedy hub that offers wide range of hilarious Hausa comedy videos to subscribers. LaffHub boast comedy shows of A-List Adamu Zango, MC Asubaba, Yusuf Guson, Excellency, Funky Mallam, 4nyCity and other A-List Comedians from the North, as well as African and International comedy content from A-List Nigerian comedians and International acts such as Basket-Mouth, AY, Mr. Patrick, Akpororo, MC Abbey, Ushbebe, and WhaleMouth. LaffHub comedy service can be accessed through the operator networks – Airtel and Etisalat, other Nigerian Operators will follow soon. Every customer that signs up on LaffHub gets a FREE subscription with 5FREE videos valid for 3 days. Laffhub subscription packages are as follows: N20 daily subscription, users can watch 3 videos. N100 weekly subscription offers 15 videos, N200 monthly subscription comes with 40 videos. And withN500, subscribers get unlimited videos for one month! It is data-free on Airtel networks. LaffHub comedy service can also be accessed through the mobile web; customers who subscribe using their credit and debit card will get one-month FREE access automatically and will have unrestricted access to all comedy content on Laffhub. You can log on to www.laffhub.com to get started or  follow on Instagram @laffhub, on twitter @laffhub, and like on Facebook at www.facebook\thelaffhub. Airtel and Etisalat customers can subscribe with their lines, while MTN and Glo subscribers will be able to subscribe for the service s oon.

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Emir Sanusi speaks about Film village

The Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has condemned the Federal Government's decision of canceling the building of film village in Kano. BBC reports that the emir made that statement at his palace during a meeting with the representatives of Kano State Film and Censorship Board. He said that the Federal Government and the council of Ulamas should sit down and find a way to make it work, there by creating means in which the Film village will be beneficial to society rather than a problem. He adds that monitoring the activities of the Film Village will help the industry to produce good films that will benefit the general public and showcase the history of our religious leaders like Shaikh Usman Dan Fodio.

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Not Getting Married To Adam A Zango Is Not The End For Me

We chat up with the scintillating Nafisa Abdullahi during the shoot of Saira Movies' maiden Tv series, LABARI NA. Here is how it goes..... As the main character of Labari Na series, what can you tell us about it? Labari Na comes with a unique character for me that I have never played before in my other films. I also believe other characters of Labari Na would tell you the same about their roles. The series comes with new imaginations and I love trying roles that people are not use to watching me play. Tell us something about your character. I'm sumayya in Labari Na, and one thing I can tell you about her is that she is a victim of love. She falls in love so many times and got jilted by her lovers. I may have played this kind of role once or twice but Sumayya's life troubles is something really new to me. Am sure it will be new to the audience too. Among the debutants in Labari Na, who impressed you the most and why? I'm impressed by all the debutants I worked with during the shoot of Labari Na. But there is one stand-out performer, Rukayya. She acted as my childhood friend in the series. She was impressive because nowadays some actors while trying hard to deliver a line, they forget about expression and when they concentrate on giving out the right expression they tend to forget their lines completely and in the end fail to deliver what is required. In this case, Rukayya really tried. You won't believe this is her first time acting when you see how she delivered her character. There's a rumour that you chose to shoot Labari Na over Rahma Sadau's Rariya... (Laughs) Kai! Ikon Allah!! This is nothing but a rumour and you know how people are. I started shooting Labari Na 3 month back, and when Rahma offered me a role in Rariya, I told her that I'm shooting Labari Na, it will take a while before we finish. My availability will depend on how the director of Labari Na allows me to work on other projects. If I could get the time I will come and shoot Rariya with you and if I'm not available, I hope you will understand. That's what we discussed. Also, I am sure Aminu Saira explained this situation to the director of Rariya. In the end I didn't get the chance to shoot Rariya because, obviously I am engaged here. You see, for someone to say I choose Labari Na over Rariya is unfair and selfish. There is no way I will drop out in the middle of this shoot to go for another. I think there's no misunderstanding here, not unless someone has something in mind. You've already produced Guguwar So, do you have any upcoming project from your production company. Yeah, there are two new projects that we are working on. But we are yet to properly sit down and finalize anything on that. Guguwar So is a love story, what’s your opinion about Love? My opinion about Love entirely is that, love is not one-sided. It shouldn't be one-sided because it is not love if your feelings aren't reciprocated. One should be either committed in love or don't be in it at all. I believe there should be no compromise in love, we should love people for who they are without trying to change them. That's it. Who are you in love with now? Well... (Smiling) of course there is someone in my heart. But then you also know I won't tell you who or the details now. Couple of months back you and Adam A Zango made a public declaration of love in the media but days after, he married another girl not you, What went wrong? Well, I believe you know every couple have their own secret in their private life beside their public-private life. I can't just tell you exactly what happened between us but if you could remember in that declaration, I added 'may Allah choose the best for us'. If we didn't get married, it's all part of it. Sometimes love doesn't end in marriages. Do you still love him? We are not in love presently. And although we are not together, no body loses their love for someone overnight. You can't just instantly fall out love with someone. Now that he is married, how does it feel? It's not something new to me. I'm fine with it. These things happen all over the world, so from on-set you have to prepare yourself for any outcome in a relationship especially people like us in the spotlight. It's not the end for me just because Adam is married, and as you see, I have already moved on. What will people expect from you? My next project will definitely be a surprise. People will see me in a role that they never expect. It’s a surprise! What do you think has been your memorable moment since joining the Kannywood industry? Well… I think my memorable moment has to be when and after I did Sai Wata Rana. It made me popular. I was new then and the film suddenly became a blockbuster. Everywhere I go people were talking about Sai Wata Rana and my performance. It was the most amazing time of my life. You won the Best Actress back to back in the recently formed Kannywood Awards. What's the secret? It’s from Allah, and my performance made it possible. I don't want to sound immodest but I won best actress back to back because I am careful in choosing the films I do now. Some of them may not get me an award but at this stage I only pick good films that I think would help lift my career. I pick like one out of 10, not just do it anyhow. What other thing differentiates you and other actresses? Well, I don't know. May be other people can say this is how I differ. Contrary to what people think, to be honest I play a lot nowadays. I am at the top being me, not because I am workaholic or something else. I can't tell you otherwise. Any message for your fans? Appreciation and well wishes, and may Allah grant everybody what's best for him . Interview by: Ibrahim Umar Bello Twitter: @aaramz Email: iubello50@gmail.com

[kannywoodscene]

Kannywood Is Here To Stay!

For nearly three decades now, the famous Hausa film industry known as, Kannywood, has been educating, entertaining, enlightening, and employing large number people from and outside of Nigeria. Before the emergence of Kannywood in 1990s, northerners watched a lot of movies specific but not bound to; Hindi (Bollywood), Hollywood, and foreign movies mostly from Europe and Asia. Kannywood movies treat their viewers with a mixture of modern-traditional culture glamour through captivating singing and dancing. Kannywood movies depict a typical Hausa culture and the daily life struggles of an ordinary Hausa man. It is also important to note that many of the messages passed through the motion pictures are adaptation from popular Hausa romance novels (litattafan soyayya) or a chapter from the Holly Qur’an and the saying of Prophet (PBUH). You would hardly find a Hausa movie that does not begin with the phrase “Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem,” an Arabic phrase meaning (In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the most Merciful) and ends with Alhamdulillah (To God be the glory). Additionally, the majority of the Kannywood movie titles are quoted in Arabic or from chapters of the Qur’an, for example; Ashabul Kahfi, Ahlul Kitabi, Mujadala, Fisabilillah to name a few. I mentioned all these movie titles to inform the readers, (especially those who are new or not into the stream of Hausa movies) how Hausa movies are religiously and culturally loaded! Yet, people would argue and make a blanket judgement and call the entire filmmakers names. It has never occurred to me even in my wildest imagination that such a gigantic institution as Kannywood would be blindly misjudged and misunderstood as a vehicle for spreading immoral decadence among youths. Recently, the federal government of Nigeria approved the proposal for Kano Film Village – a center for Hausa film industry. The film village will cost billions of Naira, create thousands of jobs and generates revenue to the state and federal government as well. The proposed Kano Film village is modeled out of an Indian film city and China film center as well. Apart from the cinematography center, auditorium for training and sound stage, the film village will also have stadium, hostels, a 3-star hotel, restaurants, clinic, and a shopping mall among other things. These amenities are not only for the consumption of filmmakers alone, but the public is welcome to use all the facilities as well. Shortly after Federal government approved the construction of multi-billion Naira film village in Kofa -Bebeji Local government Kano, many people mostly religious clerics and other "concern citizens" across the state condemned it and called for mass social media protest against the project. Some of the reasons for the condemnation is that filmmakers not only from the Southern part of Nigeria, but also from Europe and America would come to “practice immorality” and destroy Hausa values. This is not the first time Kannywood faced such negative.... It happened during colonial era, when the Lebanese business man build cinema in the state: it created tension and chaos in the city. The more you reject the idea, the stronger it becomes. Not too long ago, film was banned in Kano for years, but that does not end it forever, rather it became stronger. People should learn to embrace and live with modernity, the more you reject it, the stronger it becomes. It’s high time to table the the Kannywood and film in northern Nigeria, otherwise the industry maybe financed and supported by the foreign agencies and only God knows what would happen. What people tend to forget is that Kannywood has been in dire need of government support for years. The industry kicked off almost same time or earlier than Nollywood, but due to lack of attention and investors among other things, Nollywood quickly became the leading movie industry not only in Nigeria but in Africa. Here is an industry that employed thousands of youths making ends meet despite all technical challenges, but the whole idea misunderstood as evil, forgetting the fact that Kannywood employs more people than many public and private institutions in Nigeria. It has been speculated several years ago that if Kannywood would gain attention from the government and investors through capacity building and professional training, it would create thousands of jobs to the state and the region as well. It’s too early to forget that the entire Kannywood industry campaigned for All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last general election and their immense contributions helped a lot in bringing the APC government into power, if the APC government is willing to support them film village is what Kannywood needs the most. It's interesting how people made some silly arguments that Hausa films/filmmakers are bunch of illiterate and agents of moral decadence. Isn't that a shame to hear such clumsy argument in 21st century? In kannywood, the actors and filmmakers give more respect to their religion (Islam) in practice and in script, treat their culture with dignity to the extent that no physical contact is allowed between opposite sex on or off the camera. And as Mallam Muhsin Ibrahim pointed out in his Ana Wata Ga Wata Review. Despite its many flaws, there's no mainstream film industry that produces films in a more compliant way with Islam than Kannywood. Not even the Pakistani, Afghan, Egyptian or Iranian films. It’s only in Kannywood that a married couple are not allowed to have any physical contact in films, no matter how intimate the couples are, words and facial expressions are the only means to express their intimacy. Funny how some people take to twitter and other social media platforms to campaign about how film village will breed moral bankruptcy and totally ignoring the fact that nothing breeds moral bankruptcy like the social media and the channels we subscribe to. We've witnessed so many cases of young adults (males) on twitter exposing our Muslim girls who've sent their nude pictures to them. None of those girls exposed were Kannywood actress but our sisters at home. Also, Instagram and twitter were littered with pictures of our sisters exposing their bodies in a much publicized 2 day #Sallahfie beauty parade sessions that guys were tweeting lines like 'I love my TL right now' 'Boobs all over my TL' 'Arewa girls are beautiful' etc. That's started just hours after the Holy months of Ramadan. Our brothers using +18 language with sisters on TL is the norm on twitter nowadays. In fact, the handles our sisters follow are of those people who are not ashamed of tweeting anything. Despite all that, and all the atrocities that is happening on facebook, whatsaap, Instagram etc, there was no uproar from our Northern community, never a campaign to shut it down. Ninety percent of the members in every Hausa household subscribe to one if not all social media platforms, what they do on it we don't care but let's pretend film village breeds moral bankruptcy. The most ridiculous thing is how we played the 'filmmakers would be coming to Film Village from Europe and America to teach immorality and destroy Hausa values' card. No one has to come and teach us anything. we all know that Hollywood and its counterpart already lives in our homes through our phones, laptops and cables we use and subscribe to. They don't need a "substandard" film village in a third world country to do that. HBO don't need a film village in northern Nigeria for John Snow to trend in Kano State. Why then protest about film village when our daughters/sisters and brothers are busy watching tv shows like Game of Thrones, Banshee, Spartacus etc, shows that are full of foul languages, nudity and sex when we are absolutely fine with it but we are too hypocritical to ever admit they destroy our morality and Hausa values? Imagine the state of morals that we are fine with government/indivuduals in our society building Parks, International hotels, cinemas etc but reject the idea of a film village saying that it breeds moral bankruptcy. You could argue that someone will take your daughter(s) to those places not to a film village, because their pride won't let them. Everything comes with pros and cons, the good may outweigh the bad and vice versa, depending on how you see it. Despite it's so many disadvantage we still buy smartphones to our children and expect them to do good with it. We allow them on social media despite the harrowing things that's happening on it. Some people believe Nigerian Universities are like brothels but we didn't campaign against it or call for total shut down simply because some people actually go there to learn. It's the same thing with Film Village, regardless of what you think might happen, it is and will be beneficial to so many out there. What we are saying is, Film Village may well come with its disadvantages but there are good people in this industry. People that are serious about the profession because their lives and that of their family and so many people depend on it. We have absolutely disregard that fact when we asked the federal government to shutdown a program that will benefit so many people. I strongly believe that the film village will do more good than harm. From the economic perspective, I have no doubt that from the beginning of the construction to its completion, the film village will employ thousands of people mostly youths and Muslims talk less of its overall benefit. Believe me, the hospital/clinical facilities, stadium, and theaters could be used by Muslims and for religious gathering if the need arise. Nura Abubakar Graduate Student in African Studies Ohio University, Athens.