Yusha'u Adamu Ibrahim
3 November 2007
Kano — Following the introduction of new guidelines for film making in Kano State which led to the suspension of some film activities in the state, some Kannywood artistes have declared their intension to flee to other states to continue their business.
Weekend Magazine learnt that various producers, actors and actresses have left shortly the after ban imposed on the industry by the state-owned film regulatory organ, the Censorship Board.
It would be recalled that the Executive Secretary of the board, Ustaz Abdulkarim Abubakar Rabo during a press conference announced the extension of the ban to six months, a situation which brought film activities in the state to a standstill.
Although no single artist or production company has left Kano for another state in the name of film making, some of the artistes declared their intention of relocating to some parts of the country for continuation of their business.
Weekend Magazine gathered that Hausa film production companies such Home-Alone, Unique Ventures as well as H&B will soon relocate to Abuja, to continue with their profession.
Investigations revealed that two famous Hausa film artistes, Ali Nuhu and Sani Danja are away for professional engagements, but not as a result of the recent development in the Kannywood.
While Sani Danja is presently abroad attending a workshop under the sponsorship of the National Censorship Board, Ali Nuhu on the other hand has been in Abuja for the fulfilment of a contract he entered into with a Nigerian film production company from the southern part of the country.
A source close to Sani Danja hinted Weekend Magazine that the famous actor has already relocated to Abuja, but said his relocation has no connection whatsoever with the recent happenings between the Kano State Censorship Board and the Kannywood.
"Sani relocated to Abuja because sometimes last year some attackers invaded his house at Badawa New layout and threatened his family when he was out of town. The attackers told his family that they were at his residence just to deal with him and they will come back when Sani is back. That was why Sani relocated to Abuja for security purpose," the source said.
Alhaji Adamu Sani, the Chairman of Home-Alone Hausa Film Production, told Weekend Magazine that he will soon relocate to Abuja since Kano State Government did not want them to continue with the business in the state.
Alhaji Adamu said going by the new guidelines, the state government is signalling a red light to the industry that it does not want them to continue with the business in the state.
He cited example with the arrest and prosecution of one of his colleagues, Adam A. Zango, saying, "The prosecution of Adam is a clear indication that the state government is tired of Hausa film artistes in the state, therefore it will be good for somebody to find a suitable place for himself.
"We have so many places to go to continue our normal business across the country. States like Plateau, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto as well as the federal capital Abuja are suitable for us and those places are even inviting us to go there for film making," said Adamu Sani.
According to Isma'il Muhammad Na'abba, Chairman of the Unique Ventures, the massive exodus of the artistes from the state will not augur well for the economy of the state, saying fleeing to other states will lead to the increase of unemployment among the youths in the state.
Isma'il told Weekend Magazine that presently over 150,000 people are benefiting from the Hausa film industry in Kano otherwise known as Kannywood, noting that with massive exodus of the artistes, the sector will be deserted and eventually collapse. "As of 2006 we have over 300 Hausa film production in the state, under which over 100 cameramen, 50 costumes, 50 script writers, 50 make-up experts are working on daily basis. Therefore, with massive exodus of the artistes people are being sent back to the labour market," stressed Na'Abba.
However, Weekend Magazine learnt that a dialogue meeting was recently held between the state Attorney General, Barrister Aliyu Umar and the executive of the Hausa Filmmakers Association during which critical issues were discussed.
A source in the meeting hinted Weekend Magazine that various issues related to the recent sour relationship between the government and the filmmakers association were adequately resolved and the state Attorney General promised to take the issue before the governor for further actions.
The two parties, according the source, unanimously agreed to resolve their differences amicably and in a polite manner. The meeting, which lasted for about three hours, was held at the Attorney General's office last week.
Secretary to the Kano State Filmmakers Association, Alhaji Adamu Sani told Weekend Magazine that the association was satisfied with decisions taken at the meeting, saying it will be good for both the state government and the film makers to resolve the issue amicably.
"From the look of things, the state Attorney General was sincere in his words and going by what he told us at the meeting everything will be over and the good relationship that earlier existed between us and the government will be restored," Sani said.
He said the beautiful thing in the whole issue was that since the introduction of the new guidelines, none of them, apart form Adam A. Zango, violated a single order given by the government.
"No single artists or producer go to locations since the ban was imposed on us by the state censorship board. Going by this complying with the government order to resolve the issue will not be difficult to us and the government," he added.
The Executive Secretary of the Kano State Censorship board, Ustaz Abdulkarim Abubakar Rabo told Weekend Magazine that the expected mass exodus of the artistes from the state would not make government to reverse its earlier decision.
"We learnt that the filmmakers have gone to various personalities in the state including the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, but they were told to respect law and order. This shows that it was not only Rabo who wants them to be good and conduct their business in a better way."
Rabo said the sector is contributing to the economy of the state, but that does not mean it is a right for them to conduct their business anyhow without respecting the law of the land.
He said it is due to the importance of the sector that government established the censorship board to regulate their activities, and that soon the board will issue licence to any artist in the state to qualify him or her as a genuine member of Kannywood.
"We will not allow filmmakers in the state to tarnish the good image of our religion and culture and I am assuring you that wherever they go, they will meet the same provision because no government can allow them to destroy her good image," said Rabo.
He said it is a minus for the film makers to start fleeing to other states because it will be better for them to improve the economy of their state than to take it to other states.
"All the guidelines we have introduced were not meant to jeopardise the industry, rather they were meant to improve the sector. After all, it is not all their activities that were stopped in Kano, because what was stopped is just 20 per cent of the industry's activities and I am assuring you that the artistes will appreciate our efforts in the near future," Rabo said.
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