Blue-Ribbon'12'

Actors Don’t Remain With One Lady For Long -Nafisa

2012-02-18T03:08:00.003-08:00

Born and raised in Jos, Plateau State, Nafisa Abdullahi is one of those faces you always see popping up on the big or small screen as far as Kannywood home video is concerned, and you invariably find yourself asking, “Wasn’t she the queen and star of ‘Sai Wata Rana',? a movie that really became the test of time, and you would be right. Also referred to as ‘Sai Wata Rana’ by her teeming fans, Nafisa made her film debut in 2009, in Sani Mu’azu’s ‘Haaja,’ and literally continued to earn her stripes to date. Recently, the beautiful, actress was honoured with Best Actress Award by The Young Northerners For Excellence, at the prestigious Arewa House, Kaduna. The award, according to her is the best thing that made her dream come to reality. In this interview with AL-AMIN CIROMA, Kannywood’s own Preity Zinta' discussed her experience in Kannywood and issues bordering scandals in the industry. Excerpts:

When I first watched ‘Sai Wata Rana,’ I kept wondering and thinking of some Bollywood stars, Pretty Zinta, Rani Mukherjee, etc. Your performance was absolutely remarkable.
Oh, I like hearing that! I am thankful to God who gave me the courage to deliver my lines and to my producer/director, Ali Nuhu for helping me come out victorious. I really enjoyed the set of ‘Sai Wata Rana,’ it made me camera-friendly. I have passion for show biz, I love it and I love what I am doing. I also believe any other person could’ve done better. So yes, I’ll take your statement as a compliment, thank you! (Laughs).

Tell us about your first experience on set
(Inhales deeply) filming, like I said earlier is an obsession, kind of fixation deep inside me, I have been nursing it for a while, although my parents wanted me entirely on another platform, but I believe this is my destiny. Presently, I am studying Theatre Arts in Unijos (University of Jos). One can agree with me that in all aspects of life, there has to be a beginning and an end. My coming into show biz was like a dream come true, kind of. Acting for camera is heroic you know. I felt like the whole world is watching me, I really had to put myself together to face the challenges, having in mind that I am doing what I love most and thank God, I made it and it is now part of me.

When you came into the industry, did you have any misgivings about acting for camera choice?
Why? No! I had no doubts about my chosen career because I was determined and I know I will make it since it is my talent. Acting is not just something you can pretend about, it is either you have the talent or you don’t. I don’t see any reason someone will force himself or herself into something he or she was not born to be.

Your resume has an incredibly diverse mixture of professionalism and skillfulness and as a student of Theatre art, how do you access the Hausa home video produced in Kannywood?
That’s something that would be worth spending a little time talking about. Although as a student, I should have my limitations, but I think Kannywood is coming up, they are gradually bridging the gap. Professionally, the Hausa movies are quite appealing and everybody is now engaged in collective efforts. Go to the locations and see for yourself, the production crew are doing exactly what is expected. Sound mangers, line producers, lighteners, directors of photography, cameramen, etc. name them; everybody is doing his work professionally. Unlike before where you see a producer with a kind of ‘jack of all trades’ format of operation. Kannywood has incredibly gone international and above all, the stories appeal to all ages.
It’s very noteworthy that most of us in the industry are beginning to learn all these trends and that’s what makes our work go international. This effort is really commendable. I can now tell you that Hausa filmmakers are considerably bubbling to the international arena.

Am I right to consider Nafisa as an A-list Kannywood actress?>(Laughs) A star is a star, it depends on how you see it, A-list or not. It doesn’t hide.

You just got an award. How do you feel, are you fulfilled?
I thank God at least people have recognised this effort. And I see this award as a stepping stone, as if to say: ‘Hey, Nafisa tighten up and face challenges.’ Again, I am happy in the sense that I am beginning to see the light in my profession. I feel delighted to be part of the blockbuster, ‘Sai Wata Rana,’ which earned me this great award.

What makes you think this is a break-through?
(Laughs) I believe in God. I thank Him for His favours. I pray hard to remain myself (laughs), at least things are good on my side. Alhamdulillah (Thank God).

Can you please spell the character behind your person?
Nafisa is a simple and down to earth girl. I love myself; respect my parents, elders and colleagues. I believe all success comes through these windows. I want to use this opportunity to tell my fans that all roles we play in the movies are make-believes. They are not real, we try our best with the aid of the directors and translate the roles. So, Nafisa is simple, very obedient and accommodating. My fans should not define me by my characters in the movies. I am as plain as everybody and I love you all. (Laughs)

Show business is a kind of rendezvous where things happen the way they happen. Some artistes are involved in series of scandals, while others may be victims of favouritism and stuff like that. Were you involved in any show of shame since you made your debut?
None, I have never been involved in any scandal whatsoever.

I want you to be honest because this is a very sensitive question. Is it true that you once encountered heartbreak in the industry...?
(Inhales again) No! Umm... yes! It is true, I once fell in love with one of the artistes in Kannywood, but as usual, stars hardly stick to one particular girl, so it crashed. It was painful though, but I have been kind of preparing myself. I’ve been taking the pains in my stride. I find it quite amusing reading about some scandals on pages of dailies or magazines. So I just kind of let it be.

Any mastermind?
(Laughs) No, no! Some things are better left unexplained, most especially one’s privacy. It used to hurt, but I am good now. No more reoccurrence. I won’t give in anymore!

As beautiful and sultry as you are, were you ever harassed by a producer/director or top actor for favours?
No, I don’t believe in that, although so many things are happening under the sun. It happens in schools, banks, etc. It does not only happen in the Hausa film industry.

I want to ask you straight, how do you wriggle out of such situations and were you ever tempted?
(Laughs) Please, please stop it. I won’t be tempted Insha Allah. God is in control.

But have you had an encounter with an actor who wanted favours from you for roles?
No, never!

You mean if a handsome man winks at you invitingly you won’t respond?
(Laughs) I have total control of myself and I pray a lot, simple!

A word to your colleagues and fans.
To my colleagues, we should work hard to maintain our stardom and respect each other’s feelings. My fans, I love you all. Without you, definitely, I won’t be here, so keep praying for me. Thank you.

Pacesetting: CCDP Transforming ‘Nupewood’

2012-01-17T05:25:00.000-08:00

It was sincerely meant to be a faction from the northern film industry widely known as Kannywood because the movies produced in the north are predominantly in a local Hausa dialect, making the industry one of the largest in sub Saharan Africa. It blossomed to trigger the invention and reinvention of other ethnic group debuts with ‘wood’ as the tag to show affiliation.

Kannywood is purely Hausa speaking, depicting the culture of the people and loved by other Hausa speaking countries like, Niger, Ghana and Chad.

One of the tags that came out of Kannywood is ‘Nupewood.’ While the former is in the forefront producing home videos in Hausa language, the latter is producing in Nupe language. The Nupe film industry dates back to the year 2005 with the production of a tragic comedy titled, Teacher Yekondunu, by Mazariyya films. The hit movie became the floodgate of Nupe movies that is widely distributed in Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Lagos, Kaduna, and Kano states and even outside Nigeria.

The tonic of these productions is the music genre. Unlike Bollywood and Kannywood that music and film are fused as one, ‘Nupewood’ has both as independent of each other. This was made manifest during the 2011 presidential campaigns of the PDP.

Another eye-catching side to this phenomenon is the music of Clean Videos Production, Nanvo Yizheci, by Abubakar N. Kutigi. His has the verve and sonority of a masculine vocalist garnished with profound lyrics of traditional oratory. Abubakar’s campaign songs attracted a lot of attention and provided useful catch points in the minds of the high and mighty.

These impacts metamorphosed into the call for capacity building by Hon. Mohammed Sani Kutigi few months after the elections. According to him, raw talents should be harnessed and projected. Hon. Sani believes that quality knowledge of a vocation entrenches self worth, material independence and productivity for an egalitarian society.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP WEEKEND, one of the beneficiaries, Sadisu Mohamed shed more light on the mode of selection by the sponsor of Constituency Capacity Development Programme (CCDP). He said, “Hon. Sani Muhammad Kutigi barely knows any of us. He made no fuss of his intention up to the time we departed Nigeria. Only Abubakar N. Kutigi had met him before our departure.

“Until now, we knew nothing of the hassles of our trip. Everything was done for us. This is a rare disposition in Nigeria. First of its kind and can hardly be copied.”

Also speaking on their first experience at the institute, Abubakar N. Kutigi, said they were received on arrival by the Director and CEO of International Animation and Media Academy (IAM), Aaron Ong. “It was really fun. Our plane touched down at the Kuala Lumpur Airport at 6pm (Malaysian Time), Mr. Ong drove us straight to the beautiful KL Central area of Malaysia’s capital.

As we moved into a lift to the 8th floor of a fifteen-storey building that housed our apartment, our anxiety grew as my eyes locked with Abubakar’s and swiftly moved to the already fixed ones of Adamu. We entered our apartment with our hearts in our mouths. The place is heaven on earth. Completely a home for leisure with pleasurably stationed gadgets for home study and research. Our host took us out for dinner…. The rest is history.” He said.

What is new? At the IAM, the three CCDP beneficiaries were cut in by their well determined and high spirit to explore and satisfy their curiosities. Teacher Yekondunu said, “In less than an hour, we were taken around the spacious and architecturally marvelous academy. There was an assemblage of state of the art equipments as well as a multitude of ready experts. Introductions were made quite briefly.

“There was also a hot encounter. An impromptu class-test on digital imaging and film making! The aim was to assess our previous knowledge on film-making. In the end, Abubakar N. Kutigi topped in digital imaging while I took the lead in digital film-making. Adamu was pegged at infantry level requiring thorough drilling in the nitty-gritty of film-making.’’

What was the shocker a? This question was swiftly answered by Kutigi, saying, a special class was organized for them by the IAM boss himself, “A multi-media class to x-ray to us the dynamics of movie making. Aaron shocked us when he announced that samples of our movies he had watched lack the entire ingredients of a real movie. From script to production; camera techniques to post production, we watched and listened breathlessly to the animation and 3D guru of international repute Aaron Ong as he took us through the steps of high-class movie-making with ease.”

The three Nupe youths created a niche for themselves at the IAM ahead of many foreigners and students in their class. They were commended by all. Abubakar N. Kutigi’s mastery in Fruity Loops and Sonar Software’s in composing music thrilled all.

The two-hour contact with Aaron, according to them has remained the most memorable since their arrival. “Mr. Ong once said to us, ‘I will customize your programme based on your previous knowledge” said Mohammed.

Their success story? The three wonderful Nupewood ambassadors have been exposed to the world of movie realism with copious examples from works carried out by IAM Academy. It will be recalled that Hollywood’s The Kingmaker had all its special effects and animation designs done in IAM Academy. The movie became a guide and reference for our lectures. Emphasis was place on the pattern through which most of the effects were achieved.

“It is worthy of note to state that lectures are both theories and practical on same equilibrium,” noted Adamu Baba Abdullahi.

Adding that they have so far shot a number of scenes as test exercises like the one we titled The Loop, a 5-minute non-dialogue movie of magical realism that starred all the students as cast while he did the shoot.

“The art of doing a story-board for movie before going into production is where we are now. It is such a wide field that appears to be the secret of most Hollywood blockbusters,” said Abdullahi.

What next? How time flies! The eager-beavers have already spent a month out of their 90 days stay at the IAM. Their classes were meant to last for a month. The second month shall be individual application of knowledge acquired so far via practical. A short film, documentary and a musical video are the projects before them now.

What would be the final package?

The boost this training will give the emerging Nupewood may be unquantifiable. No doubt, arbitrariness will be a thing of the past. The knowledge shall not be monopolised. They shall impart on other budding practitioners to heighten professionalism, by implication, their movies will wear new looks of exceptional quality and patronage will consequently swell. Youthful exuberance and restiveness will decline and the society will be better for it. Nigerian motion picture industry is surely on the forefront to the climax. Only time will tell.
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Published in my LEADERSHIP WEEKEND Column, December 3, 2011.

Solace For Filmmakers In Kutigi Constituency

2011-11-23T02:41:00.000-08:00

Al-Amin Ciroma, Abuja

Some emerging film practitioners in Kutigi, Edati and Mokwa are after being made happy beneficiaries of the Hon. Sani Idris Kutigi special programme on constituency empowerment. The programme, according to him, is the first of its kind, he said his zeal is to empower his constituents as well as give hope to the under privileged. The package, Constituency Capacity Development Programme (CCDP), is aimed at empowering teeming youths in the society.

While answering questions to newsmen, Hon. Kutigi said after a careful observation, he found out that the best that can be done to a society with promising youths is to impact in them wealth of experience in their related fields of knowledge.
“I am optimistic that this programme will go along way in creating job opportunities and professionalism in the society. Having seen the trends in the world as far as digital inclination is concerned, I want my constituency to be the first to lead others in all fields of proficiency and I am happy to announce that this programme is the first of its kind,” he said.

CCDP, according to the originator, is going to be a continuous exercise and that in the first category, it started with filmmakers and subsequently other practitioners in various fields.

Also speaking, the programme coordinator, Muhammad Dahiru explained that the filmmakers, who were randomly selected with the Hon. Kutigi constituency, are Sadisu Muhammad, a.k.a ‘Teacher Yekundunu,’ Prince Chado Ahmed and Mohammed Ndaku Kutigi. They have successfully gained admission to study film related matters and digital animation at the International Animation and Media Academy (IAM) Malaysia, which is one of the world’s leading animation firms meticulously designed and critiqued by industry experts (such as producers, directors and visual effects artists) from Hollywood, Asia and Europe.

The three months sponsored programme, according to Mohammed will give them a good balance to lay their hands in the most recent software and equipment in the visual effects and animation. “Hon. Sani Kutigi has opened a window to the lives of the underpriviledge in the society, this is also a chance for the beneficiaries to also acquire City and Guild certificates, which is the best recognition a professional will yearn for world wide,” said Dahiru.

The beneficiaries thanked the honourable member for the kind gesture and urged his colleagues to emulate this humanitarian obligation, saying that this will go along way in regenerating the society and will also help in restructuring the youths, who are the future leaders.

Hon. Sani, who is the son of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Idris Kutigi, won National Assembly election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with a total of 125,924 votes, which made him the member of the National Assembly that won with such a high number.

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Published in LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPERS today

Kannywood Was Fully Transformed Under My Tenure – Mu’azu

2011-06-05T10:34:00.000-07:00

By Al-Amin Ciroma

Malam Sani Mu’azu is the outgoing National President, Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN), who is about to complete his second consecutive term in office as its chief executive. MOPPAN as the umbrella of filmmaking business in the North has a wide spectrum and membership across the Hausa film industry practitioners and stakeholders.

Just before the commencement of the transition process into new MOPPAN executives in the forthcoming national convention of the association, Mu’azu comprehended some of his laudable achievements in office. He said, although his tenure was full of ups and downs and legal battles between various members of his association and the Kano State Censorship Board (KSCB), he was able to take the Hausa film industry to the next height, adding that his cabinet dedicated its time in protecting the interest of members of MOPPAN, where they fought the Director-General, KSCB, Malam Abubakar Rabo Abdulkareem in various court cases. Notable among them were cases between Hamisu Lamido Iyantama (Producer) and the case instituted by the Kaduna Filmmakers Association against Malam Abubakar Rabo for alleged defamation of character. He said, “Although, we came in at a time, at the Kannywood was facing a lot of controversies and hullabaloos, we succeeded in taking the industry to the next level. What we did at our foremost mandate was to create awareness. You know a filmmaker ought to have at least a fair bit of intellectuality. So, we embarked on trainings. Also, a series of capacity building has been taken care of, since 2007, MOPPAN engaged it’s members in so many workshops, conferences and so on. Notable among them was development filmmaking organised by our association in conjunction with the French Embassy, who sponsored professionals from across the globe to train the stakeholders in modern filmmaking.” He said.

Mu’azu reiterated that his team also played an important role in making festivals relevant to the stakeholders. According to him, a lot of filmmakers enjoyed mass campaign by his team to attend festivals and professional skills acquisition workshops. “Before we came in, there was hardly a Hausa filmmaker attending festivals, workshops or other film-related events, where hosts of filmmakers come together to share opinions, but with our campaigns and continuous interactions with MOPPAN affiliate members, they have come to understand and since then festivals and events have become very much pertinent to them. A lot of them are now attending BOB TV, shoot training series, and so on.”

In a related development, the outgoing MOPPAN scribe, also commended his cabinet for giving him all the support needed to discharge his duties. He acknowledge the fact that under his regime, MOPPAN was fully recognised by the two top most regulatory bodies in the entertainment industry in Nigeria; the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), adding that, “We have identified with the NFVCB’s national distribution framework where we enlightened our members on the importance of the framework. MOPPAN has also promoted Kannywood to a national brand by working hand-in-hand with NFC and all other government agencies in film related matters.

The most outstanding achievement recorded by his regime according to the MOPPAN chief executive was the African International Film Resource Centre proposed by his cabinet. “We are very happy to announce that in our bid to see that Kannywood becomes one of the greatest industries in Nigeria to meet up global challenges, we did a thorough survey and study to come up with a proposal for establishing a film resource centre in Kano where we identified Tiga as the proposed site for the project, considering the serene environment and peaceful atmosphere and we hope the Kano state government will now revisit the proposal which suffered set back from the DG-KSCB, Malam Rabo, who feels it is a waste of resoruces.”

Apart from the proposed film village by MOPPAN, Sani Mu’azu also reflected national issues covered by his administration, he said, MOPPAN has written its name with golden pen at the national parley by Nigeria’s movie stakeholders, which took place in Lagos, last year. He said, “In making Kannywood a national player, MOPPAN has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Coalition of Nollywood Guilds and Association (CONGA), which aims at bringing all professional and non-professional guilds and associations in the motion picture industry in Nigeria under one roof to fight a common objective. Kannywood is now one of the members of this great union.”

The most lucrative and beneficial stride of his tenure, according to him was collaboration of MOPPAN with National Primary Health Care (NPHC) last year, to embark on mass campaign on primary health care diseases, “It was during our tenure that MOPPAN gained yet another recognition to sign an MoU with NPHC in the quest of creating awareness to health issues pertaining primary health care. We invited movie scripts from producers within MOPPAN, which will create awareness to the public on primary health care. The scripts were screened and sponsored by NPHC to commence production. Without saying much, this is quite a step forward for Kannywood,” he said.

Asked whether he encountered limitations or restrictions in the two four year terms, Malam Sani said, the most challenging aspect of his administration was lack of funding with little or no sponsorship. “We have suffered lack of sponsorship. At a point, we continued operating from our. The only support we got was from the cultural department of the French Embassy. Apart from that, the most exigent was the fact that we were being surrounded by court cases here and there and above all, some misconceptions by other stakeholders in the game,” he pointed out.

What are his aspirations and ambitions after this? The eloquently spoken Mu’azu, who is also an actor said he would dedicate himself to his personal project after this mission and if possible, register himself as one of the founding fathers of MOPPAN. “After this mission, I would have enough time to execute my personal projects, which suffered when I was MOPPAN president, you know, you can’t be everywhere, as a leader then, the activities of MOPPAN must have consumed my time, but when I am relieved, I would concentrate on my personal projects and field works,” he concluded.

What are his goals as the outgoing national president of MOPPAN? Mu’azu said his major concern is who will succeed him, “I am very much confident that MOPPAN will go places if, and only if the administration that will succeed us will continue from where we stopped and even go beyond us positively. So, I would want the members to think twice in electing the next president. They should look for a credible and trustworthy person to continue from where we stopped.”

To this end, there is so much 'tub-thumping' and scheming going on about the MOPPAN presidency. Will the delegates adhere to the primary decision agreement of zoning as it was before or will the show be a pied-a-terre format? The biggest question still remains, who is going to succeed the throne at the forthcoming MOPPAN national convention scheduled to hold in Minna, the Niger State capital soon? Only time will tell.

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Published in my weekly Kannywood Column in (Leadership Weekend) of Saturday June 05, 2011.

NOLLYWOOD IN CANNES: World’s Second Best, Zero Impact

2011-06-02T09:18:00.000-07:00

“The value of a man is what he does expertly and the mystery of existence is the connection between our faults and our misfortunes.” -Imam Ali bn Abi-Talib (as)

The celebrated Nigerian motion picture industry, Nollywood is currently the second largest film producer in the world with stars that cut across the shores of the continent yet, unable to join their counterparts from Hollywood, Bollywood and other notable film industries from other countries in participating and competing for the coveted prizes and other attractions of the prestigious Festival de-Cannes. None of Nollywood’s movies were accredited for screening at the main bowl of the world’s most populous film festival.

Every year, the Nigerian government spends huge amount of money and resources to rent a pavilion plus ester codes for the powerful delegation to represent the nation. Although it has successfully acquired a grand stand at the international village with its flag flying. From inception, one may quickly say it was a significant thing that happened to the giant of Africa for obtaining the unique Pavilion 111 at the International Village. The pavilion which is located next to the Cinemas du Suud of the Southern French Cinema was acquired by the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and became home to the all other regulatory bodies, stakeholders and practitioners in the country’s motion picture industry.

However, with all these structures on ground, none of the movies or practitioners made breakthroughs to the great event or even outside the competition. Movie stars and stakeholders from Nigeria are simply unknown at Cannes as none of their products were available at the Marche du Film (film exhibition centre). Of course Africa and other Nigerian communities in the Diaspora celebrate with optimism and cheer Nollywood stars everywhere they go but what really counts is breaking the ice and making heads turn at the Cannes International Film Festival or Oscars and not at the usual local Silverbird galleria in Abuja or Lagos.

Nigerian filmmakers therefore need to aim at shattering the highest glass ceiling as South African stars have done for decades by winning Oscars. Cinematographer, Ted Moore (1914–1987) was the first South African to win an Oscar in 1967, when he also won the BAFTA for Robert Bolt’s magnificent film, A Man for All Seasons. He was from Benoni, the same town as actress Charlize Theron the first South African actor to win an Oscar in 2004 for Monster, her gripping role of serial killer, Aileen Wuornos was described as “one of the greatest performances in the history of the cinema” by the highly esteemed American film critic and screenwriter, Roger Ebert, the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.

Other Oscar winning South Africans are: Ronald Harwood who won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for the multiple award winning movie, The Pianist in 2003 and his other screenplay The Diving Bell and The Butterfly had four Oscar nominations in 2007. And Gavin Hood who got the Oscar for the Best Foreign Language Film with Tsotsi in 2005.

To say the least, going to Cannes for the Nigerian filmmakers and its contingents is nothing but sight-seeing or as mascots of their respective organisations. The visitors to the pavilion 111 do not even get a catalogue of Nollywood movies there and no Nigerian product qualifies for accreditation at the competition. Nollywood buffs boast that it is now the world’s second largest, but unfortunately nothing can qualify its being at the competition. The most infuriating thing is that each year, Nigeria tosses an extravagant party at the end of the event. One may wonder what the rejoicing is for? Do they celebrate their failure to meet up conditions by the festival jury? Unknown to many of them, the country has been a laughing stock at the prestigious event.

The filmmakers have excelled into showing the world its mediocrity and carelessness about professionalism in the entertainment world. It is rather piercing for countries like Niger, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt and so on to unseat Nigeria in the race of world entertainment professionalism. But nothing can be done when a Malian famous director and filmmaker, Souleymane Cisse was crowned with Cannes coveted Prix du Jury in 1987 for his film, Yeeleen (Brightness). He is the first African to receive this award from Cannes.

The story continues, it is invented and re-invented every year and at the same time, the festival team and the city of Cannes prepare to greet artistes and professionals from around the world. But to our dismay, the great festival continues with zero impact from Nollywood and the Nigerian players. Why, how and when do Nigerians want to make the decision that Nollywood become known not only in Cannes, but other similar events like the Oscars? Consider what is required: the enthusiasm of our filmmakers to produce world class projects that would meet international standard, the seriousness of the actors and above all making stories that will appeal to all.

In addition to this and as to the weather or unless government and other corporate bodies come to the rescue by rendering support is an old song, series of conferences and workshops were done to make it perfect. Countries like Egypt, Tunisia and South Africa have signaled to the world their desire for film transformation in their various countries, making the African continent bigger by the day.

Looking at the frequency at which Festival de Cannes operates, the 63 year-old festival was originally set to be held in Cannes in 1939 under the presidency of Louis Lumière. However, it was not until over a year after the war ended that it finally took place, on 20 September 1946. It was subsequently held every September – except in 1948 and 1950 – and then every May from 1952 onwards. Every edition, the appearance of stars from around the world on the Festival’s red carpet and increasing media coverage quickly earned it a legendary international reputation.

Many African films have been screened at the Cannes and among them are films from Morocco, Les Yeux Secs by Narjiss Nejjar, Le Silence de la forêt by Didier Ouenangare and Bassek ba Kobhio from the Central African Republic and Cameroon in 2003, Khorma by Jilani Saadi from Tunisia in 2003, Heremakono by Abdherrahmane Sissako from Mauritania in 2002, La Saison des Hommes by Moufida Tlatli from Tunisia in 2000, La Genèse by Cheick Oumar Sissoko from Mali in 1999, Kini et Adams by Idrissa Ouedraogo from Burkina Faso, Le Destin by Youssef Chahine from Egypt in 1997 and Po di Sangui by Flora Gomes from Guinea Bissau in 1996.

But the Nigerian film industry which is 104 years old, with its first film Palava, shot in 1904, is yet to be in the contest. I think the apex body of filmmaking in Nigeria must be questioned for such international embarrassment or seize. We are tired of old songs!

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For the Records: Awards of 64th Edition of Cannes 2011

1. Feature films
•Palme d’Or: This most outstanding award goes to The Tree of Life, directed by Terrence Malick

• Grand Prix Ex-aequo: This years Grand Prix was lifted by Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Bir Zamanlar Anadolu’da (Once upon a time in Anatolia) and Le Gamin Au Velo (The Kid with a Bike) by Jean-Pierre et Luc Dardenne

• Award for Best Director: Nicolas Winding Refn for his marvelous movie, Drive

• Award for Best Screenplay: Joseph Cedar for Hearat Shulayim (Footnote).

• Award for Best Actress: This award goes to Kirsten Dunst for her stupendous role in Melanchola, directed by Lars Von Trier.

• Award for Best Actor: 2011 most super star goes to Jean Dujardin for his performance in Michel Hazanavicius’s The Artist.

• Jury Prize: This award goes to Polisse (Police) directed by MAÏWENN

2. Short Films
• Palme d’Or: For short film goes to Cross (Cross-country) directed by Maryna Vroda

• Jury Prize: Badpakje 46 (Swimsuit 46) directed by Wannes Destoop

3. Un Certain Regard:
• Prize of Un Certain Regard Ex-aequo: Goes to Arirang, by Kim Ki-Duk

• Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize: Went for Elena, directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev
• Directing Prize of Un Certain Regard: The movie Be Omid E Didar, directed by Mohammad Rasoulof

4. Cinefondation:
• 1st Prize Cinéfondation was won by Der Brief (The Letter) directed by Doroteya Droumeva

• 2nd Prize – Cinéfondation: Drari, directed Kamal Lazraq
• 3rd Prize Cinéfondation: Ya-Gan-Bi-Hang (Fly by Night) directed by Son Tae-gyum

5. Golden Camera
• Caméra d’Or: The coveted golden camera awards goes to the movie, Las Acacias, directed by Pablo Giorgelli

Nollywood Here I Come – Ify

2011-06-02T09:02:00.000-07:00

Ifeyinwa Concepta Duruji is one lady making waves in the modeling industry. The beauty queen hails from Umuaka village in Imo State. Graduated from Imo State University in 2005 where she read Government and Public administration, served in Katsina State in 2006 and later left the country to return early 2010 to take the mantle of Miss Peace pageantry. A soft spoken and delectable Ify, discussed with AL-AMIN CIROMA on a number of issues surrounding the showbiz she is in, challenges and her aspiration as a peace advocate. Excerpts.

You are the current Miss Peace; could you tell us the road that led to your being crowned?
The road to my success has not been easy but I would say it was a gift from God because I never expected it. I knew I was going to contest, I also had a feeling that I might emerge top three, but I never knew I was going to be blessed by being crowned as the winner.

As a matter of fact, when I returned to the country, I met a couple of ladies, they facilitate us for the pageant and they talked me into buying the form but I did not see the need for that because I knew I won’t be in the country at the time of the pageant. I was supposed to go back to school for my masters but it just happened that I was still in the country and was not really doing much at the time because my school was almost lapsing so I decided to pick the form, since my sisters also encouraged me to do so. That’s how i picked the form and entered the race where I eventually emerged as the winner of the Miss Peace Nigeria 2010.

Who are the facilitators of the pageant?
Miss Peace is organised by Laber Peace Pageant. It is a very credible contest I must say because I have been into a couple of contests while in school and to me, contests are not all about being beautiful, you have to be intelligent but you don’t need to be so draining like the need to get to know if you are credible enough or disqualified enough to be a queen. Miss Peace is different because it is unique and we were tested in every way, in speech, in reading, in meeting people and being able to cheer others because that is what peace actually entails.

Why do you think Miss Peace pageant is distinctive and exceptional?
Unlike every other pageant, it is not just a beauty pageant, it is a social platform for championing somebody who can be encouraged or who should be encouraged by the country to preach the mission of peace since the world at large is going through some kind of crises. If you look at some parts of the world, not only Nigeria, there is chaos and crisis everywhere. And the uniqueness of Miss Peace pageant has gone a long way to addressing social vices in the society and also thought about the progress and problems the country is facing. Hence, trying to participate in making or contributing to a sustainable peace in the country.

Why did you subscribe into pageantry at this stage of your life when you are supposed to be in school?
I have always known I would end up in showbiz. I was involved in a couple of pageants, and I could recall people call me finest girl or Miss hot legs and so on, so I knew that when I leave school I should do something more serious in modeling or pageantry.

So much has been said about the way facilitators of these competitions conduct the contests like how models go out of their way to get a winning ticket. What can you say about that?
I must confess, Miss Peace is actually unique and I think government should look into it and see how they can support them because unlike every other contest I have been in where it always looked like the winner was foretold and every other person was just there to make the number, but Miss Peace was different and am a witness, I never knew the organisers. I happened to meet somebody who briefed me about the pageant and I eventually went to the bank and got the form and I won. Those who watched the event live would testify that I was shocked and even cried. It was free and fare.

I think girls who know they are beautiful should not have to give something up or offer anything to be in any contest. If you know what you have you go for it and if you have to offer anything in exchange, you don’t have to do it, it is not necessary to go any extra mile because most time when they have done that, they still don’t succeed.

From experience as a model and contender of many pageants, did you ever experience a situation in which people ask you out before or after such events?
Yeah. In all the contests I have been in were all good except Miss Tourism Nigeria. It was not a good story at all because while in camp, contestants were so much you would know that the pageant had been determined. There were these groups of people that always go out in random. In camp, you were not supposed to go out and it happened that those that go out won. So it was very obvious and clear that they had sacrificed what they had to win. It did not bother me much because I enjoy the fact that I came all that far to represent my state. Some pageants are not worth it, some make mockery pageantry by making it look like you have to offer something.

Please I want you to be very honest. What if you became desperate to get the title, would you have succumbed to any request by the organisers to help you out?
I believe that life itself is a struggle, once you have what it takes to be the queen, just keep struggling, you might get a breakthrough. You have to also be confident, because if you loos composure, you won’t even remember your name on stage, but if you have all the qualities, then do your best, get good costumes, clear speech, you win without belittling yourself.

What is your mission as Miss Peace Nigeria 2010?
As Miss Peace, I preach and mediate for peace. From time to time, we go out visiting people, most especially in crises areas to encourage them and support them in whichever way we can. The last time, we were in Minna to visit the bomb blast victims. Apart from that, we complement many crises and violence that occur in this country by sympathising with victims and also advocating for peace.

As a stakeholder in the peace mission, what are the possible ways Nigerian government can adopt to meet up the millennium development goals before year 20: 2020?
I think Nigerians should begin to understand that we are one big family. As far as I am concerned China is bigger than us but they don’t have these sectarian or religious crises. We don’t need to always fight because we don’t speak the same language. I think most of the crises are political and quest for power, there is greed in it too. When leaders begin to address youths and not use them as a tools for whatever negative thing they want, they will live in peace and embrace each other. For example, I am Christian from Imo State but I was born in Kano State, I had all my childhood in Kano, I also had my secondary education in Jigawa State, so I have most of youth stage in the north. All my friends are Hausas and Muslims and we have a good relationship. I think it can always be that way with everybody enjoying it, when I say things in Igbo and they say it in Hausa, we enjoy the fact that we have different cultures and values and it is something that we should see as a gift that most countries don’t have. It is something we should use as tourism tool, it is something we should celebrate.

Suppose you were given another tenure as Miss Peace, what would you focus on?
I will focus on youths’ orientation. We had credible elections this time around which is a sign of a better future since the elections did not involve so much thuggery, rigging and so on like in the past. The fact that it was minimised this time show that people have begin to have a different mindset and are beginning to know they should vote for who they want, so I would like to work with the youths and make them understand in their own little way that we are the future of this country. And the leaders will not be there forever, we are going to grow to be the leaders of tomorrow.

I would want to ask you personally in a lighter mood, what are your favourite colours?
I love combining colours, sharp colours, but my favourites are black and white.

Is Miss Peace still searching?
(Laughter) Yeah, I am single, mingling but not searching.

Then who is your ideal man?
My ideal man has to be good looking, have a good heart and be ready to take care of me. Loving and very very romantic... hmn, I am a very emotional person and I won’t like hurting people, I also want my man to be very intimate with me, show compassion and love.

What is your sign?
I am Sagittarius.

How compatible would you want your match to be?
I would want it to be very very good.

Miss Ify, can you please say it because it is important to know if you are in a relationship...
(Cuts in) I don’t have anybody in mind seriously. That’s the truth!

Then am I right to say you are now searching?
You want to use the word searching... but at my stage, I am not searching, when I make up my mind, I will start looking around.

What if somebody came knocking at your door, would you give him a chance?(Laughter) You know I am a friendly person, I can sit him down to interact with and give him reasons why I am not ready to settle down.

How do you unwind?
If I am less busy, I love to have a sound sleep; I love to watch movies, to play table-tennis and sometimes swim too. That’s how I unwind.

What are your aspirations after Miss Peace?
After Miss Peace, I am looking at the movie industry. I believe I have the flair to act. Then in future, I am eyeing the polity, I see myself as a politician, I would want to be a senator of the federal republic.

What would you tell the younger ones that may wish to emulate you?
For the upcoming ones who want to be celebrities, stars or something, you don’t have to give anything up to be anywhere. Good you can give something to receive, but it should not be something you might regret. You just have to be hard working to receive results.

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Published in Leadership Weekend

Kano Will Be Accomodating Again —Danja

2011-06-02T08:57:00.001-07:00

Sani Musa Danja is one of the few multi talented actors and the only one who sings in English in the Hausa film industry (Kannywood). Recently, Danja spent millions to produce his new albums, New Guy In Town and Mai Nasara. Danja is known to be one Nigerian artiste who stood firmly behind President Goodluck Jonathan and Kano State Governor-elect, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in the just concluded 2011 general elections. In this brief chat with AL-AMIN CIROMA, Danja quashed rumours that he was attacked at the post-presidential crisis that erupted in some parts of the north. Excerpts:

Do you think Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso will give filmmakers a ‘Stiff cheddar,’ considering the unending feud and entrenched laws by the state censorship board that resulted in their migration to neighbouring states?
I assure that Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was the mastermind behind all reforms in the industry. We cherish the way he operates because he gives us an enabling environment as well as a listening ear. Nobody is against positive transformation but when it comes with frustration and hatred, nobody will take it. When Kwankwaso was there in the first place, he summoned all of us and after a series of interactions, he came up with some reforms that was sure to strengthen the industry because he is a man of vision. He appreciated our effort in creating jobs to teeming youths in the society and so encouraged us to come up with guidelines that will be used to score good works of a hardworking artiste and also to serve as regulatory ethics of operation. That is what metamorphosed into forming a censorship body. So, I can authoritatively tell you now that filmmakers were among the powerful body that created the Kano State Censorship Board under the able leadership of Dr. Kwankwaso. I am very happy to announce that we are very law abiding citizens of the federal republic and will work with any government that is ready to support us and not kill our business. On the issue of those who fled the state due to stiff conditions by the government of the moment, I would not want to disclose their fates, but, like I said, Kano is a home for everyone and I think they will gradually see the light and come back to their home state.

You were one of the artistes who campaigned for the ruling party at the just concluded 2011 general elections, now that elections are over, what is your focus?
You see, from inception, the ideology behind my being in show biz is not unconnected to my intention to serve my immediate community. I joined the motion picture industry to be able to transform and affect people’s lives in a positive way. I don’t only act because I want to be known but also to educate people and address their problems. It is just like politics, you have to know what your immediate community needs so that you can give them proper representation. I jumped into supporting candidates of my choice in politics not just to feel among, but also to represent my people and look out for a way of delivering their yearnings to appropriate authorities. That also reminds me of when I was anchoring the actors train in Kano.

As the chairman of the Actors Guild, I encouraged my colleagues to contribute money and relief materials every now and then and they welcomed the idea. And by the proceeds, we visited hospitals and orphanages to extend our friendship to them. Not only that, there was a time when disaster befell Niger Republic, I single-handedly organised artistes to produce a musical album which we launched. After redeeming the pledges, we bought foodstuff and relief materials which we presented to the Niger Republic consulate as a token contribution to our loved ones in their country. So, film is my profession and I will always stand by it.

Do you have a candidate for the now empty seat of the DG Kano state censorship board?
You see, that is the beauty of democracy. The political party I am supporting has mandates and the man behind it in Kano State, who is also the governor-elect is a man of vision like I said earlier. He operates an open-door policy. First and foremost and personally, I am not willing to contest for any post in my state but as a good citizen, I would suggest that the government considers those who worked hard at ensuring that Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is back.

Let me tell you, when we started the journey, nobody supported us, they thought we were just bluffing. I was on crutches then because of the serious accident I had, but all the same, I stood firm to see that I render my support, not for anything, but for the fact that we were subjected to series of humiliation by the ruling government at the time. That is the history of our timely support for Kwankwaso. Some of our fellow artistes, I could recall went on air to abuse and sabotage our efforts, they called us names but at the end of the day, we are now laughing. Therefore, I am of the opinion that, whoever is going to vie for this post or any other seat in the state should be thoroughly screened.

What is the stake of the 20m dollars promised in support for the motion picture industry in Nigeria by the president?
The fund is being processed by appropriate bodies and very soon, all stakeholders in the industry in Nigeria will benefit from it. Mr. President has reiterated his stand to see that the giant industry in Nigeria grows to become the best in the world. After his pledge to fight piracy, he has worked-out modalities in which the fund will be actualised through appropriate quarters. Many committees are gradually being launched to manage the fund and distribute it accordingly.

Finally, were you attacked during the post-presidential crisis that erupted in Kano?
(Laughter) I was well and healthy throughout the period. I want to use this medium to say that, all these were just rumours ostensibly purported by mischief makers, but nobody harmed me, they only succeeded in burning our family house. I think they feel as one of the great supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan, I may be harmed or threatened but thank God, nothing happened to me. I was able to survive it. As we all know, violence and these sectarian crises are caused by joblessness and poverty; government should therefore create jobs to the teeming youths in the society, so they are not used by mischief makers.

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Published in LEADERSHIP WEEKEND

We Are Still One –Danja, Yax

2011-06-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

Sani Musa Danja and Yakubu Mohammed have been friends and partners in the filmmaking business. They were believed to be Kannywood’s Dominico Dolce & Antonio Gabbana since their debut into the industry. Their giant 2Effects Empire is listed among the top movie ventures in the North. Not only that, they were able to break the jinx beyond the shores of Kannywood. While Danja specialised in acting, producing and partial music, Mohammed became a certified playback singer, lyricist and director. To this development, they became Kannywood’s perfect and most adorable artistes.
Their success, however, is gradually becoming caged; Leadership weekend gathered that the two partners have both gone to various endevaours. Sani Danja is driving his political machinery and a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Nigerian Artistes in Support of Democracy (NAISOD), while Yakubu Mohammad, popularly known as Yax, has become a full-time journalist and publisher. He is anchoring the publication of his monthly magazine, ‘The Noble Icon.’ Danja, spoke with Al-amin Ciroma briefly.

Could you shed some light on why your giant 2 Effects Empire is now redundant as tongues are wagging that you have both deserted it for independent fields?
I can assure you that all these allegations are mere insinuations. Our company is still in business, as well as our partnership. The reason why people feel we are having a disagreement is that I am now partially into politics because of my NGO, and I feel there is a societal burden on me. That is what motivated me to become a full-fledged political analyst and supporter. Yax on the other hand, is also busy on his pet project, which he has been nursing for quite a long time. He publishes his monthly magazine, but then we are still as close as people know us to be. And whenever we feel like going to location to shoot, we keep our aggrandisements aside and come together. We are still the owners of the 2Effects Empire.

Why did you opt for politics this time when there is so much competition in the industry?
I got this inspiration through the loggerhead we had with the Kano State government, how they grossly tarnished our image. We sat down to think whether it was because we were not in the system and had no godfather? I mean, what they did to us was uncalled for. That is the main reason why I anchored this mission to show the society that politics is everybody’s game. We are Nigerians and have a full right of association.

Why are you supporting President Goodluck Jonathan when there are many aspirants from the North?
Politics is an ideology. I have been one of the supporters of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. We did a lot of missionary activities for his political aspirations, and having known the laudable missions of President Goodluck Jonathan, we decided to fully support him, not minding his geopolitical background. We are all Nigerians and this country is greater than an individual. We don’t engage in religious or ethnic preference in politics. People need to be fully sensitised. What we need in this country is a truthful leader that can address our immediate problems and be there for us, irrespective of ethnicity or religion. Goodluck Jonathan, in this short period of time, has succeeded in proving that he is the messiah Nigerians are yearning for.

My support for him is an obligation, which I owe my fatherland and my community. As an actor, I have an obligation not to mislead my fans and supporters. I am into this game to render my own quota to the society. That is to say that we intend to give back to the society what it gave to us. What am I trying to say? You see, we have our ways of information dissemination to our communities, and since our fans and supporters have been very loyal to us, we have to represent them in all ramifications.

Are we right to assume that you have joined your counterparts from Nollywood to the political train of Goodluck Jonathan because of the pledge he made to the industry?
No, no, no! Not at all. The entire practitioners of the entertainment industry in Nigeria are supporting the Goodluck/Sambo movement, not because of the pledge or the anti-piracy war he promised. It is because of his commendable missions. Nigerian artistes are no fools; they are people of outstanding intellectuality, so nobody can woo them for nothing. The words are written on the wall for everyone to see. Nigerian youths need a man like him, not because he is Goodluck, but because he has good plans for the country, and he plays his cards with an open mind. If you talk of the intervention fund, it was only announced and made public few weeks ago. But we have been his supporters since inception because he can deliver this country and make reforms as promised.

Do you think it is professional to leave the industry for politics? What if the person you are supporting does not scale through?
Remember, we are in a democratic era, nobody has any right to reprimand you, simply because the person you were supporting could not scale through. As a matter of fact, a true democrat should have it at the back of mind that he can win or lose by a vote. It is not a do-or-die affair. If my candidate fails, I will take it with good faith and continue propagating his mission, as well as ginger him for another time, simple!

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Published in my Kannywood weekly column (in LEADERSHIP WEEKEND)

INTERVENTION FUND: Goodluck’s Pledge To Fight Piracy

2011-06-02T08:39:00.000-07:00

Hausa Filmmakers Wants Fund Without Stiff Conditions

In a bid to support the motion picture industry in Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated his intention on how to chart a new road map for the creative industry as well staging a war on pirates in order to support hardworking Nigerian artistes reap from their sweat. This was part of the message delivered by the president when he hosted all Nigerian artistes, sportsmen and women at Eko Hotel, Lagos recently.

Other requests from the artistes to the president includes setting up of a film village, accessing the $200million intervention fund, setting up of endowment fund for the art, enacting regulatory bills and distribution network.

President Jonathan, who said he did not call the artistes together because of the elections, called for the review of the existing laws on piracy, which he said, must be made effective to curb the nefarious activities of pirates in the creative industry. He noted that except the piracy problem is effectively tackled, the artistes’ community would not make any progress in the chosen career.

“Totally, I agree that without handling piracy, we cannot make any progress. I believe some existing laws need to be made stronger and effective. We need a special body that can handle it,” he said.
He said the government has lots to gain if it supports the industry because the sector is a key one every President should identify with. He observed that the government is too far from the sector and that it needs to be closer to know what is happening in the industry.

A brief presentation of the late reggae King, Bob Marley’s tune, Redemption song by West African idol star, Timi Dakolo was all the Senior Special Assistant to President Jonathan on Research Documentation and Strategy, Mr. Oronto Douglas needed to set the tone for the interaction that lasted till 11pm.

Douglas described the interaction as the first of its kind in any administration in the country. “This is the first president that will be calling on the masters of the creative industry for an interaction. And to have this session is to set an agenda for the future. Those in charge of laughter and happiness cannot be undermined…This is not the time to think regional or ethnic, but excellence. This sector must be supported so that Nigeria will grow,” he told stakeholders at the dinner.

From veterans such as master visual artist, Bruce Onabrakpeya, film legend, Eddie Ugbomah, popular poet, Odia Ofeimun, juju singer, Dele Abiodun, lecturer and culture promoter, Emmanuel Dan Daura, multi-talented culture activist, Ben Tomoloju, seasoned producer, Zeb Ejiro, ageless actor, Olu Jacobs, to Nollywood and contemporary music as well as comedy stars such as Segun Arinze, Stephanie Okereke, Daddy Showkey, DBanj and Ali Baba, the hundreds of the industry players had tabled their fears before the president, who promised to take prompt action on their requests, especially if he returns to office after the April elections.

Others include the Kannywood team, led by Alhaji Sani Mu’azu, the National President, Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN), Ibrahim Sheme, founding member, Kaduna State Producers’ Association, Ahmed Alkanaway, administrative Secretary, MOPPAN and Sani Musa Danja, Chairman, Kano State Artiste Council, also the president of Nigerian Artiste in Support of Democracy (NAISOD). Others include: Yakubu Mohammed, famous movie director and host of Hausa film actors like Malam Isa Bello Ja, Hauwa Maina, Rahmatu Hassan, Ubale Wanke-wanke, etc.
Among other industry leaders, Mr. Bond Emeruwa called for prompt action on the revised Nigerian Film Policy which, according to him, is at the Ministry of Information; the President of Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria, Busola Holloway, enjoined the President to check the trend in which production of choice commercials were being taken out of Nigeria while most production crew are being sourced from abroad. In specific terms, the producer of Moments with Mo, Mo Abudu urged Jonathan to upgrade the capacity and operations of the Nigerian Television Authority(NTA).

While the Vice President of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Sunny Ododo, called on the President to assist in the building of its proposed Writers’ Village in Abuja, President of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners, Greg Odutayo, revered producer, Amaka Igwe, among other requests, want the Presidency to make it possible for filmmakers to shoot films at public places such as the Aso Rock, the National Assembly and airports – without hindrances.

Kannywood’s Sani Mu’azu, expressed the need to access the intervention fund without stiff conditions. Also, while the President of the Society of Nigerian Artists, Uwa Essien, called for the building of befitting exhibition halls, Onabrakpeya pleaded with Jonathan to make it possible for artists to display their works at strategic government offices whenever international programmes were being held there.

Footballers such as JJ Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Ikpeba, Austin Eguavoen and Peter Rufai were also in attendance, with Eguavoen urging the president to look into some debts of promises the Federal Government owes players and the retirement dilemmas that sportsmen face.

Thanking Jonathan on behalf of the artistes and investors in the sector, a former Minister of National Planning, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, commended him for what he described as the cerebral approach to life, which, according to Gbadamosi, Jonathan had cultivated for long.

As several other speakers acknowledged at the dinner, the Special Adviser to the President on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Mr. Oronto Douglas, also noted that it was the first time any Nigerian President would sit down and talk with the entertainment workers. He assured them that the way Jonathan had kept his promise on power and electoral reforms, he would act on the various demands they had made.
Some of the Kannywood stakeholders, who expressed their views on the intervention fund by the president, were of the opinion that the Jonathan-led government is the best that ever happened to Nigeria. They expressed their satisfaction with his government and pledged their support for his continuity. Sani Musa Danja, urged his colleagues in Kannywood as well as his teeming fans to see to the truth and support the Jonathan movement.

“I am delighted with the support Mr. President is according the industry with this intervention fund, I was also impressed when he announced his intention in drawing the battle line between his government and the pirates, who, for decades have frustrated the hardworking artiste by pirating their works, leaving them with nothing. Therefore, I am calling on my fellow artistes in Kannywood and Nollywood as well as my fans and well-wishers, to support the continuity of this government, because it aims at rejuvenating this promising industry.”

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Published in my Weekly Kannywood column (in LEADERSHIP WEEKEND)

AMAA 2011: Glitz, Glamour As Congo-Kinshasa Leads

2011-03-31T10:18:00.000-07:00

By Al-Amin Ciroma

A congregation of Africa’s movie stars, including those in the Diaspora were hosted at the Gloryland Cultural Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, last weekend, to celebrate this year’s annual African ‘Oscars’, the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).

The night was dominated by Congo Kinshasha’s Viva Riva, which won six awards, including Best Film and Best Director for Congo’s Djo Tunda Wa Munga. The movie also won Supporting Acting awards for actress Marlene Longage and actor Hoji Fortuna, as well as Cinematography and Production Design awards. ‘Viva Riva’ had ealier led the nominations with a total of 12.

The movie Sinking Sands picked three awards, with Amake Abebrese winning ‘Best Actress Award’ to go with prizes for its screenplay and make-up. The other two multiple award-winners were Izulu Lami, which won Best Film in African Language and for which three actors shared the Best Child Actor Award. Aramotu,won Best Nigerian Film and Best Costume Design. Other awards include The Best Actor Award which went to Themba Ndaba for his role in Hopeville. The Best Young Actor was received by Edward Kagutuzi for his Mirror Boy, while the Special Jury Award was won by Shirley Adams from South Africa.

Among those who attended the ceremony presided by the Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timpre Sylva, was the Kenyan Minister of Information, who said that AMAA’s positive contribution to the development of African Cinema in the last seven years could not be over-emphasised. He added that Nigeria had taught the rest of Africa how film can be a powerful socio-cultural and economic export to the rest of the world.

Aside Niji Akanni’s Aramotu which competed for the Best Film category, Nigeria has other movies in contention. Tunde Kelani’s Maami, Mahmood Ali-Balogun’s Tango With Me, Jeta Amata’s Inale, and No Jersy No Match by Daniel Ademinokan were in contention, but couldn’t scale through. An elated Chief Executive of AMAA, Ms Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, said during the ceremony that this year’s edition had been re-loaded to give visitors to Bayelsa, venue of the award ceremony a new experience. She was full of praises for the Bayelsa State government for the partnership and support given to AMAA since it made its debut in 2005.

The guest list read like a roll-call of Africa’s leading thespians, including Rita Dominic, Mike Ezuruonye, Kate Henshaw-Nuttal, Ini-Edo, Jim Iyke and Ramseh Nouah. Others were Joke Silva, Jackie Appiah, Chinedu Ikedieze and Majid Michel who mounted the podium to appreciate the crowd during the event.

The complete list of winners at the awards include Best Film, Viva Riva – Djo Tunda Wa Munga (Congo), Best Director Viva Riva – Djo Tunda Wa Munga, Best Actress In Leading Role - Amake Abebrese - Sinking Sands and Best Actor In Leading Role -Themba Ndaba – Hopeville. Other categories winners include, Best Actress In Supporting Role - Marlene Longage – Viva Riva, Best Actor In Supporting Role Hoji Fortuna – Viva Riva, Best Young Actor, Edward Kagutuzi – Mirror Boy, Best Child Actor, Sobahle Mkhabase (Thembi), Tschepang Mohlomi (Chili-Bite) And Sibonelo Malinga (Khwezi) – Izulu Lami, Best Film In African Language, Zulu Lami – Madoda Ncayiyana (South Africa), Best Nigerian Film, Aramotu – Niji Akanni, Best Screenplay, Sinking Sands, Best Editing

Soul Boy, Best Cinematography, Viva Riva, Best Achievement In Sound Shirley Adams, Best Visual Effects, A Small Town Called Descent, Best Soundtrack, Inale and Best Make Up goes to Sinking Sands.

Others categories are Best Costume Design – Aramotu, Best Production Design Viva Riva, Best Film For African Abroad In America: The Story Of The Soul Sisters - Rahman Oladigbolu (Nigeria/USA), Best Diaspora Short Film, Precipice – Julius Amedume (UK), Best Diaspora Documentary Stuborn As A Mule – Miller Bargeron Jr & Arcelous Deiels (USA), Best Diaspora Feature, Suicide Dolls – Keith Shaw (USA), Best Documentary Kondi Et Le Jeudi Nationale – Ariana Astrid Atodji (Cameroun), Best Short Documentary After The Mine – Diendo Hamadi & Dinta Wa Lusula (DRC) and Best Short Film Dina – ‘Mickey Fonseca’ (Mozambique).

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Published in LEADERSHIP, March 30, 2011

At the AMAA: Hausa Film Makers Yearn for Presence

2011-03-27T07:22:00.000-07:00

By Al-Amin Ciroma
The capital city of Bayelsa State, Yenagoa is set and will tomorrow erupt in ovations and a great reception when winners in the 26 categories of the 7th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) will be announced. Giving the breakdown of the nominations as announced on 25th February in Kenya, the Chief Executive Officer of the award body, Ms. Peace Anyiam-Osigwe at a media briefing said Congo and South Africa got the highest nominations. She said that although ‘Viva River,’ a film from Congo had the highest single nominations, South Africa has four films that are very competitive that made the nominations too.
“The four South African films in competition include ‘Hope Ville’ with nine nominations, ‘Izulu Lami,’ seven nominations, ‘Shirley Adams,’ five nominations and ‘A Small Town Called Decent’ with six nominations. Combined together, South Africa had the highest nominations by a country with a total of 27 nominations.” She stated.
Other African countries in the contest include Ghana and Kenya. Ghana’s ‘Sinking Sound’ had 10 nominations and Kenya’s ‘Soul Boy’ had six nominations, while Nigeria has four films that are also prominent on the nomination list. They include ‘Maami’, a film directed by Tunde Kelani’s ‘Inale,’ directed by Jeta Amata; Niyi Akanji’s ‘Aramotu,’ and Mahmood Alli-Balogun’s ‘Tango with Me.’ judging by country nominations, Nigeria trails South Africa with 23 nominations.
‘’I want to say we have strong films across Africa and the diaspora in competition for this year’s AMAA and all the films that made the nominations, whether they win or not in their different categories are good films that will do well in film circuits around the world,’’ she stated.
She also stated that more than seventy percent of the nominees across Africa and beyond have signified interest to attend the awards in Nigeria while reiterating the readiness of the organisers and host State, Bayelsa to welcome guests from within and outside Nigeria.
‘’The good thing about this year’s AMAA is that our guests will experience Bayelsa in a new way as we have events lined up for a whole week. AMAA this year will not be a day’s event. There will be opportunity to network, share experiences and even make co-production deals with other filmmakers. Visitors will explore the sights and sounds of Bayelsa to feel the people and culture of the state. Besides, oil rich Bayelsa has great tourism potentials waiting for enterprenuers to grab.’’ she declared.
Over the years AMAA has been conceptualised as an annual celebration of the brightest and the best in African movie. It is about class and style, blitz, glitz and razzmatazz. AMAA, according to critics is regarded as the biggest gathering of movie makers across the African continent and the diaspora. It is to show the world that the rating of Nollywood as the world’s second largest producers of movies as a well-deserved feat.
Hauwa Maina is an ace filmmaker cum actress in the north, she works tirelessly in promoting the Hausa movie industry. Maina sees AMAA as the largest event that attracts all key players, including those from grassroots in the industry. According to her, there is need for the African filmmakers to unite and face global challenges and trends in the motion picture world. “In 2008, AMAA introduced a category for ‘Indigenous films where several Nigerian indigenous films, including one movie from Cameroun, were nominated-‘Iranse Aje’, ‘Ipa’, ‘Hafsah’, ‘Onitemi’ and ‘Tabou’ from Cameroun. It was really fun and most us were delighted because we felt the event is African. I was personally delighted when a Kannywood movie, ‘Hafsah’ was nominated in the category, but since then, it was shelved. I am calling on our indigenous filmmakers to work harder in retaining the category and even go beyond it for additional slots in the contest.”
A cross section of the Hausa filmmakers who aired their views on the event, yearn for the presence of their movies to be recognised at prestigious African event. Others criticise the organisers for margnialisation. Murtala Mohammed Aniya is also one of the promising filmmakers in the Hausa movie industry. In his assertions, he said, “The only actor recognised by AMAA is Ali Nuhu, and the only movie that will earn their jury’s attention will be the ones that featured him, but unknown to them, Ali is just one out of millions of Kannywood actors. There are so many Ali Nuhu’s, we have a lot of talents emerging in the industry, I am throwing this challenge to the organisers of the awards to come to the north and explore the talents we have here,” said Aniya.
Meanwhile, as we await the winners later today, Nigeria tops the list of this year’s razmatazz, with the nominations of Daniel Ademinokan, Jeta Amata, Genevieve Nnaji, and Lonzo Nzekwe.
Nominations in various categories:

*Best Short Film
Bougfen – Petra Baninla Sunjo (Cameroun), Weakness – Wanjiru Kairu (Kenya), No Jersey No Match – Daniel Ademinokan (Nigeria), Duty – Mak Kusare (Nigeria), Bonlambo – Zwe Lesizwe Ntuli (South Africa), Zebu And The Photofish – Zipporah Nyarori (Kenya), Dina – Mickey Fonseca (Mozambique), Allahkabo – Bouna Cherif Fofana (Togo)

*Best Short Documentary
Symphony Kinsasha – Diendo Hamadi & Dinta Wa Lusula (Congo), Naija Diamond (Feature On Dr. Rahmat Mohammed) – Nform Leonard (Nigeria), After The Mine – Diendo Hamadi & Dinta Wa Lusula (Drc), Stepping Into The Unknown – Rowena Aldous & Jill Hanas-Hancock (South Africa), Yeabu’s Homecoming – Jenny Chu (Sierraleone)

*Best Documentary
Kondi Et Le Jeudi Nationale – Ariana Astrid Atodji (Cameroun), Headlines In History – Zobby Bresson (Kenya), Co-Exist – Adam Mazo (Rwanda), State Of Mind- Djo Tunda Wa Munga (Congo), Naija Diamonds- Nfrom Leonard (Nigeria)

*Best Diaspora Feature
Suicide Dolls – Keith Shaw (Usa), Tested – Russell Costanzo (Usa), Nothing Less -Wayne Saunders (Uk), The Village -Wayne Saunders (Uk)

*Best Diaspora Documentary
Stuborn As A Mule – Miller Bargeron Jr & Arcelous Deiels (Usa), Momentum – Zeinabu Irene Davis (Usa), If Not Now – Louis Haggart (Usa), Motherland – Owen Alik Shahadah (Usa), Changement – Chiara Cavallazi (Italy)

*Best Diaspora Short Film
Cycle – Roy Clovis (Usa), Under Tow – Miles Orion Feld (Usa), Habitual Aggression – Temi Ojo (Usa), Little Soldier – Dallas King (Usa), The New N Word – Sowande Tichawonna (Usa), Precipice – Julius Amedume (Uk)

*Best Film For Africans Abroad
Anchor Baby – Lonzo Nzekwe (Nigeria/Canada), In America: The Story Of The Soul Sisters- Rahman Oladigbolu (Nigeria/Usa), Mirror Boy – Obi Emelonye (Nigeria/Uk), Africa United – Debs Gardner-Brook (Rwanda/Uk)

*Best Production Design
Tango With Me, Viva Riva, Hopeville, 6 Hours To Christmas, Maami

*Best Costume Design
Inale, Yemoja, Sinking Sands, Aramotu, Elmina

*Best Make Up
Inale, Sinking Sands, A Private Storm, Viva Riva, A Small Town Called Descent

*Best Soundtrack
Aramotu, Nani, Who Owns Da City, Inale, A Small Town Called Descent

*Best Achievement In Sound
Sinking Sands, Shirley Adams, Izulu Lami, Viva Riva, Tango With Me

*Best Cinematography
Soul Boy, Sinking Sands, Hopeville, Shirley Adams, Izulu Lami

*Best Nigerian Film
Maami – Tunde Kelani, Aramotu – Niji Akanni, Tango With Me – Mahmood Ali- Balogun, Inale – Jeta Amata, A Private Storm – Lancelot Oduwa Imaseun/Ikechukwu Onyeka

*Best Film In African Language
Aramotu – Niji Akanni (Nigeria), Izulu Lami – Madoda Ncayiyana (South Africa), Soul Boy- Hawa Essuman (Kenya), Suwi – Musola Catherine Kaseketi (Zambia), Fishing The Little Stone – Kaz Kasozi (Uganda)

*Best Child Actor
Sobahle Mkhabase (Thembi), Tschepang Mohlomi (Chili-Bite) And Sibonelo Malinga(Khwezi) – Izulu Lami, Eriya Ndayambaje – Dudu In Africa United, Jordan Ntunga – Anto In Viva Riva, Ayomide Abatti – Young Kashi In Maami, Benjamin Abemigish a- Zebu In Zebu And The Photofish, Shantel Mwabi – Bupe In Suwi

*Best Young Actor
Yves Dusenge (Child Soldier) And Roger Nsengiyumua (Footballer) – Africa United, Samson Odhiambo And Leila Dayan Opou – Soul Boy, Edward Kagutuzi – Mirror Boy, Donovan Adams – Shirley Adams, Junior Singo – Hopeville

*Best Actor In Supporting Role
Osita Iheme – Mirror Boy, Hoji Fortuna – Viva Riva, Mpilo Vusi Kunene – A Small Town Called Descent, John Dumelo – A Private Storm, Desmond Dube – Hopeville

*Best Actress In Supporting Role
Mary Twala – Hopeville, Joyce Ntalabe – The Rivaling Shadow, Marlene Longage – Viva Riva, Tina Mba -Tango With Me, Yvonne Okoro – Pool Party

*Best Actor In Leading Role
Themba Ndaba – Hopeville, Patsha Bay – Viva Riva, Jimmy Jean-Louis – Sinking Sands, Ekon Blankson – Checkmate, Antar Laniyan – Yemoja

*Best Actress In Leading Role
Idiat Shobande -Aramotu , Omoni Oboli- Anchor Baby , Manie Malone – Viva Riva , Amake Abebrese- Sinking Sands, Denise Newman -Shirley Adams, Genevieve Nnaji – Tango With Me

*Best Director
Soul Boy – Hawa Essuman, Shirley Adams – Oliver Hermanus, Viva Riva – Djo Tunda Wa Munga, Aramotu – Niji Akanni, A Small Town Called Descent – Jahmail. X. T Qubeka, Sinking Sands – Leila Djansi

*Best Film
Viva Riva – Djo Tunda Wa Munga (Congo), Sinking Sands – Leila Djansi (Ghana), Aramotu – Niji Akanni (Nigeria), Soul Boy – Hawa Essuman (Kenya), Hopeville – John Trengove (South Africa,) A Small Town Called Descent – Jahmil X.T Qubeka (South Africa).
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Published March 26, 2011

Post-Mortem Conference On Hajj 2010

2011-03-27T07:19:00.000-07:00

By Al-Amin Ciroma

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) held a 2-day post-mortem conference on the 2010 Hajj in Kaduna, under the chairmanship of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto and National Amirul-Hajj, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, mni, CFR, with a view to examining the hajj operations and identifying suitable strategies for improvement.

Earlier before this conference, the officials of Hajj National Executive Council (NEC) held similar meeting at the National Mosque, Abuja to discuss operational activities, challenges and recommendations of the successful Hajj 2010 exercise.

After the exhaustive deliberations and critical examination of the various issues, the conference agreed and drafted the following communique:

1. Pilgrims’ education: As part of its efforts in fostering peaceful Hajj operations in the country, NAHCON looked at the pilgrims’ education and agreed that there is need for proper education, orientation and sensitization of pilgrims on hajj rites and conducts. Not only that, the communique include establishment of a central ‘Da’awah’ and ‘Irshad’ unit to coordinate and harmonise the activities of ‘Ulamas’ across the country on hajj matters. Against this background, the conference agreed that the period of pilgrims’ training to last for at least three months.

2. As a measure to harmonise pilgrims’ stay in the holy land, the committee agreed that in Makkah, the state pilgrims’ welfare board/agencies to abide with NAHCON guidelines on securing sufficient accommodation to avoid overcrowding. They should also provide transpotation where accommodation is more than two kilometres away from the holy mosque (‘Haram’).

While in Madinah, there is urgent need for permanent accommodation in Madinah for Nigerian pilgrims. And to avoid unnecessary inconvenience to pilgrims,the communique included the need for the state pilgrims’ welfare boards/agencies to conduct proper coordination of movement of pilgrims in Madinah.

3. On feeding, it was resolved that feeding arrangement should be maintained and improved upon, in addition to expanding the committee. Henceforth, agreements with Mu’assasah and caterers should be thoroughly examined and analysed by a competent legal authority before signing and that the preparation for feeding arrangement to commence early.

4. Transportation: The meeting commended the new transportation system and called for improvement where there are inadequacies. In this vain, it was also resolved that dissemination of accurate and timely information be implemented to ensure firm control and orderly movement of pilgrims.

5. Medical service: The committee resolved that pre-hajj medical screening for all intending pilgrims to commence in good time to enable the issuance of a medical information card. In order to solve health problems of the pilgrims, the committee agreed that there is need for in-flight medical personnel for emergency health matters. As against the eventual health problems occurring during the hajj exercise, the committee agreed that medical clinics should be increased and spread around the cluster of pilgrims’ accommodation in Makkah and Madinah.

5. Tour Operators: The committee resolved that seat allocation to Tour Operators should be done in time while the list of licensed operators should be published in the media. It was also agreed that there is need to facilitate issuance of multiple and official entry visas to Tour Operators to enable them move freely in the Kingdom.

NAHCON was also asked to exert its authority by appropriately sanctioning any defaulting Tour Operator. The commission was also advised to be involved whenever agreements between Tour Operators and service providers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are signed.

The conference also strongly observed the prevalence of syndicate groups both in Saudi Arabia and Nigeria engaged in the sale of travel documents, visa racketeering and smuggling of illegal pilgrims. The conference therefore emphasised the need to ensure proper screening of Tour Operators’ pilgrims, just like their counterparts in the State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and Agencies. To achieve these set objectives, they were advised to hire separate aircraft for the purpose of airlifting their own pilgrims.

6. Role of Ulama: The conference resolved to organise a meeting of some selected Ulama across the country to deliberate on contentious issues on Hajj for proper interpretations and guidance of Nigerian pilgrims and such meetings to be sponsored by NAHCON.

7. Luggage policy: The conference maintained that the full implementation of the existing NAHCON luggage policy of 40kg check-in and 10kg single hand luggage be retained and enforced by all. However, excess luggage outside the above mentioned should be handled by licensed Cargo Operators by states. The meeting also discussed and resolved that there is need for establishment of uniform approach to luggage management and collection for both regular and international pilgrims, having airlines’ representatives at screening days.
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Published March 18, 2011

Piracy: Filmmakers Cry For Help

2011-03-27T07:17:00.000-07:00

“Since the hunters have learnt to shoot without missing, we will also learn to fly without perching,” says a popular African adage. Such appears to be the resolve of the Hausa film makers under the auspices of Film Protection Image Association as they paid a courtesy call on the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) in an effort to voice out their feelings and yearnings on how to curb the menace of piracy in the movie industry.
Earlier, a popular actor, Ali Nuhu, who was among the entourage, congratulated the new director-general of the commission on assuming office as the commander-in-chief to drive the fight against pirates. He said the new DG has a lot of challenges ahead and pledged that the Hausa filmmakers are ready to work with the commission in order to annihilate the peril of piracy in the industry. The Kannywood screen guru, Nuhu, gave an insight on how the pirates make money out of filmmakers’ sweat without their sole authorisation. “We feel the time has come for us to visit your esteemed organisation and voice out our feelings about piracy and how it affects our business so that your commission will come to our rescue by tackling the problem,” he said.
Also speaking, the Secretary-General of the Film Protection Image Association, Alhaji Bashir Fagge took his time to read the problems faced by the Kannywood stakeholders out of piracy. He said, although the Hausa film industry is in incubation stage, the stakeholders have been in the fore front to diversify its capital base. Noting that the hand of the clock is fast ticking against pirates, their cronies and activities. And with the launch of his organisation’s battle against piracy, the much-awaited succour for the creators of intellectual properties to enjoy the fruits of their labour may have finally arrived.
The activities of pirates, according to Fagge, have continued to make copyright owners live in penury. Efforts at tackling this menace gave birth to different programmes by NCC, the most recent was the Strategic Action Against Piracy (STRAP), launched a few years back. However, he pointed out that the Hausa filmmakers, without support from government and corporate ogranisations, make waves in the industry and contribute a lot in securing jobs to the teeming youths in the society, therefore, need to be protected. The secretary also shed more light on how some pirates go about announcing that they are fully registered with the commission.
In his remarks, The director-general, NCC, who was represented by the Director, Public Affairs of the commission, Sir Charles Olisaeloka Obi, assured the stakeholders that NCC would look into details of various issues raised by the Hausa filmmakers and advised them that those who have issues with staff of the commission should get in touch with him. Obi expressed delight that a lot of issues that formed the basis of the vision of his administration have been brought forward by the stakeholders and described his stay in the commission as a new era in the copyright system in Nigeria.
The DG announced that the focus of his administration would be a more proactive NCC that would commit reasonable resources to enforcement. Obi observed that why stakeholders had little or no confidence in the commission was because the focus was probably different and stated that his focus would be to hunt criminals, prosecute and send them to jail. He added that NCC cannot achieve its goals without the support of the stakeholders and commended them for their collaboration in anti piracy activities and prosecution.
Responding on some of the petitions submitted by the Kannywood group, the director said, “We are working hand in hand with the custom to curb the pirates, those who import pirated works into the country and recently, we have arrested a man who rebranded himself as King of Pirates, we are taking him to court and we shall follow the case to the logical conclusion. The commission is doing its best to fight the menace; at the importation level, we are there at the production level we shall also see to it.”
He said, “I advise the Hausa filmmakers to work with the law enforcement agents in curbing the pirates. First of all, try and identify where the pirates are, launch an attack and arrest them. That is what we are also doing, we cannot be everywhere. So if you arrest them, hand them over to us and see what we can do. That is the collaboration we are seeking from you and I am happy, you came in here under one umbrella with different fields of expertise. There are actors, producers, marketers, directors, etc; that is team work and I believe with collaborative minds, we shall curb the pirates. I therefore commend you stick together and assure you that there will be positive results in this anti-piracy campaign.”
While responding on allegations about some members of NCC who go about taking honorarium from the filmmakers, the DG said, “To the best of my knowledge as a director in this commission, I have been among the management staff of this organisation and we have never demanded for any money to do our work. It is strange, I have never heard of it both here in the headquarters nor any of zonal offices. And please if you can give information on where this happened we can issue a query immediately. We don’t take gratification, we don’t take honourarium, we don’t take bribes and if any of our staff did that, please report immediately to us and we will take action. This commission has a good reputation, no individual can spoil it to put money in his pocket.”
Mr. Charles explained further about the commission’s shortcomings, “You see, we are actually not adequately staffed here, but we are doing our best within the limited resources we have. Let me quickly say that we have presence in Kano, we have in Bauchi, Kaduna, Yola, Makurdi. So the new DG in a few weeks will embark on visits to the north, he will come and see you one -on-one and I will also advise you to congregate just as you did with more of your members in the places he will visit, so that some of these things you will directly talk to him. But before then, he will get this report and be assured that this commission will work with you hand in hand in achieving its stated objectives,” he stated.
He reiterated that the main motive behind the commission was to support a market-driven telecommunications industry and promote universal access. We will achieve this through the consistent enforcement of clear and fair policies that protect stakeholders, ensure efficient resource management, share industry best practices and deliver affordable, quality telecom services.

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Published March 19, 2011

I am A Fulfilled Filmmaker – Gotip

2011-03-27T07:13:00.000-07:00

UMAR ABDULLAHI GOTIP is to Kannywood what Matthew Libatique was to Hollywood. From Kanke local government area of Plateau State, Gotip enrolled in the Television College Jos, where he acquired a wealth of knowledge for the industry after his primary and secondary education. Not only that, the famous Director Of Photography (D.O.P)/production designer did a lot of professional courses in film making-related matters. In this chat with Al-Amin Ciroma, Gotip expresses his passion for the entertainment industry.

Tell us your journey to the industry. What really motivated your joining the industry?
A lot of things my brother. For example, my source of inspiration has been the famous Cockcrow At Dawn. Thereafter, one of my friends then, Malik introduced me to the industry in 1984. I later joined the NTA as a gaffer/cameraman. That’s how I came to the industry. I did a lot of national and international projects. I was part of the film, Soweto, which was shot in 1987; the movie depicted the South African Apartheid. Not only that, I also took part in Mr. Johnson and a lot of TV-soaps like Behind the clouds, Riddles and jokes, etc. most of which I either participated as one of the gaffers/grips in the production crew or some guest appearance as an actor.

You sound like an all-rounder but can you define your primary role in the industry?
(Laughter) Actually, I am an all-weather artiste. You see in my first film, I anchored everything, I produced and directed. Likewise other projects, I often sign a contract as a sound engineer, lightener or cameraman/D.O.P. What am I trying to say? The industry is really dynamic; and for me, I got the opportunity to go through a lot of professional courses in the profession, I find it interesting to practice virtually everything. I recently did a joint-production with one of Kannywood’s screen divas, Binta Yahaya to produce a sensational and breath-taking movie; Tuna Baya and I truly enjoyed it because I love what I am doing. I thank Almighty God for the fact that from inception, I was lucky to work with pioneers and famous professionals in the motion picture world and that has been my added advantage as an artiste and production man.
But if you compel me to tell you my primary job, I would say, Umar Gotip is a Director of Photography. (Laughter).

You seem to love this business, what makes you feel great…?
(Cuts in) Like I said earlier, I derive pleasure in the business because I never for once regret what I am doing. It’s really fun because I meet a lot of people. Filmmaking is the best thing that ever happened to me. There is so much to say and learn, you gain prestige and above all, the entertainment industry is really competing with the federal government in the labour market because of the endless job opportunities therein. So, it’s an enabling environment for me. My parents bless me everyday and I am contented with it.

Can we know from your archive how many projects you have participated in so far?
Wonderful, they are uncountable. For example, I did a lot of Nollywood projects and I was part of the very first English film that was shot in Jos. Not only that, I did participate in a couple of Nollywood projects like How too far, 11th Hour, The World is Mine, Battle of love, Desperado, Uncle Wayward, Ashawo, and a host of others aside tens of thousands of Hausa movies.

As one of the top production personnel in the industry, what do you foresee for both Kannywood and Nollywood?
This industry is actually bobbling. Despite all odds, I still can foresee good things happening to the industry. The Hausa film industry is also coming of age, very soon, the whole country will come together as one to define only one ‘wood’ as a symbol of recognition. I therefore foresee good things coming.

Who is Umar Gotip in real person?
(laughter) Umar Abdullahi Gotip is very simple, cool headed and is always ‘alright’. I have good rappourt with everyone in the industry. I don’t talk much, I remember my mom used to call me ‘Kurma’ meaning deaf because she noticed at that time that I don’t talk. So I am a very simple man.

The entertainment industry is widely known for its series of scandals. Have you ever encountered any outrage?
There is an adage that says in every twelve there must be Judas. You can be amidst the fire, if you want it to touch you, it will really touch you, but if you don’t want it to touch you, it definitely will not touch you. Having grudges with people or engaging in disputes is not a civilised way to live with people. I don’t engage in scandals.

What do you love most in your life?
I love women, probably because am still searching (Laughter).

Any message to your colleagues?
We should employ a sense of reasoning in all we do. A filmmaker should at least have a fair bit of intellectuality. We should avoid disputes and be committed to our job. There are some unbecoming attitude plays by Hausa actors. It is only in Kannywood you‘ll see it, most especially when they are at loggerheads with fellow colleagues they will say, ‘I won’t work in Mr. X’s project if ‘Mr. Y’ is in the cast…’ this is bullshit! People should learn to be well behaved. I think those at the helm of affairs of film making here in the north should teach them the ethics of professionalism because most of them don’t know.

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Published March 05, 2011

Acting Is A Very Hectic Game - Safiya

2011-03-27T07:07:00.000-07:00

The beautiful Safiya Musa is known more for her flair and talent in the industry having been remarkably the best actress in the Hausa film genre due to her unique characterisation in movies. Over the years, she remained silent for reasons best known to her. The back-slide by the Adamawa state-born actress generated a lot of controversies. While some people accused her of insanity, others were of the opinion that the screen diva left the shores of Kannywood because she had been over-used by producers and directors and that she had nothing to offer anymore.
In this chat with Al-Amin Ciroma, the actress discussed her life and why she opted to return to acting. Excerpts:

For a long time nobody could tell your whereabouts. What has been happening to you?
You see, its all about reason and way of life. I decided to withdraw from the industry because I sensed there were lots of mediocrities in the industry and there was no single person who was ready to make some reforms and that made me conclude that I would not be a party to any industry that will lead one nowhere. So I quit! And now, I have a feeling that things are gradually falling in place so I came back. That’s all.

What have you been doing since quiting or is it stepping aside for a while?
(Laughter) It was not quitting anyway. I just kind of shelved myself from producers and took a long time to ponder on issues bothering my life. And don’t forget, I am also a business woman. So, I gave my business total concentration. So I was very busy with my international trades. I traveled a lot, had fun and made my business grow.

So many things were said about you. First of all, it was alleged that you contracted a secret marriage with a top-shot politician, also there were some chitchats that you even had a child for him and that was what necessitates your leaving Kaduna for another place. Can you clarify these issues?
You know everybody is entitled to his/her opinion. You can’t stop them from talking what they want but the truth is, I have never absconded from Kaduna. I’ve lived all my life in Kano and I am still there. All these rumours are not true, but whenever you try to be on the defensive, it will be that you are trying to give the gossips weight. So that is why I don’t want to go into details.

What was life like when you stepped aside from acting?
It was normal for me. Remember I told you that besides acting, I am also a business woman. So I kept myself busy and I enjoyed my stay outside the industry because it gave me much time to think about myself and my future. I have never changed from being the Safiya Musa everybody knows. It was really fun... (Laughter) You know acting is a very hectic game, you hardly have time for yourself so I really, really enjoyed myself.

Can you share with us some memorable things that kept your morale high and some challenges you faced outside the industry?
I won’t forget the day when someone called me from the United States to inform me that I had won an award from an oranization. The award was presented to me here in Nigeria. I was really happy because it came from a woman who established a cinema galleria in the states under my name: ‘Yar Musa’. I felt happy.
I also faced challenges in life when I lost my dear Mom. She was the pillar to my success and career. And now that she is of blessed memory, I am on my own, so you see I am still facing that challenge.

How are you going to prepare yourself for survivor’s series in the film industry now that there are many competitors in the field?
(Laughter) I don’t see much challenges in that area because I’ ll always be myself and I don’t think of anybody. I do what I am expected to do and take instructions from my producers and directors that’s all. I don’t feel intimidated by anyone in the industry; I am still the Safiya Musa people know. There is no big deal! Remember, most of them now are my juniors in the industry so I am not going to compete with any of them.

Who is your role model in the industry?
Late Safiya Ahmed was and still is my model. I like her acting abilities and she respected me a lot. May her gentle soul rest in peace, amen.
What should your fans expect from you now that you are launching your ‘welcome-back’ to the industry?
(Laughter) There is nothing new, I am still myself. I will do as it pleases my producer/director. Therefore, I would like to appeal to my fans to keep praying for me. I love them all.
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Published February 26, 2011

My Acting, My Career —Rahmatu Hassan

2011-03-27T06:48:00.000-07:00

RAHMATU HASSAN is one of Kannywood’s screen divas and astute stars. Within a shortest period of time, she was able to record her name among the top Kannywood actresses having introduced a new style of characterization into the Hausa film genre. She is always ahead with great enthusiasm on set. Hassan is now a hot cake in the Hausa movie shows and because of her tight and busy schedules all the time, she hardly take a break to attend to some of her personal affairs. This interview would have been an exclusive one, but because of the nature of her ups and downs, she just managed to answer a few questions. Apart from being one of the hottest Chics in Kannywood, Rahama has also gotten a lot of national and international recognitions and nominations. First she was nominated alongside cream-de-la-cream of the top Nigerian artistes in the race for ‘Face of Hope’ contest and ambassadorship. Not only that, she was nominated for the award of best attracted at the Savannah International Movie Awards, held in Abuja last year.

What’s so special in Rahama’s life and acting career plus her aspirations? The beautiful and ever gorgeously dressed star spoke with Al-Amin Ciroma in Kaduna. Excerpts.

What are your childhood experiences?

Growing up was a lot of fun. I started acting from my childhood and my parents have been supportive all the way. They have always said if acting makes you happy don’t hesitate and that all I needed is determination and zeal. So whenever I have the opportunity to interpret a role, they have encouraged me to put in my best. This has kept me going in the industry. I also work with Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and I do business. You may be wondering, ‘how does she do all these?’ Well the truth is I make very good use of my time and Almighty Allah has been there for me.

What were your aspirations as a child?

Hm… I had the flair to act right from childhood. I had told my Mum about it, who in turn told my dad and he supported it. He was like, ok you could go and act, no problem. I therefore nursed the desire to be a good actress and also be successful in whatever I do. I am still climbing the ladder and so far so good, God has not left me for a second. What could be more beautiful than a dear old lady growing wise with age? Every age can be enchanting, provided you live within it.

What was your first acting experience like?
I remember vividly how very nervous and shy I was. But because I had a flair for acting, it didn’t take time before I loosened up and it’s been steady despite the fact that we still face some challenges. I felt great afterward and remember my teachers telling me ‘you’ve got the talent and you will do well if you pursue this as a career’. I guess I am living all that out now. I was so happy and almost couldn’t wait to grow up and do the real thing.

The movie, Maryam Diyana seems to be the one that brought you to limelight. When it did, did you think you had arrived?
Yes, it was my first major movie that brought me fame, but I have also done some others like: Rudin Zamani, Bahijja, for which I was nominated as best actress in SIM awards last year, Kudissiya, Musanya, Gaskiya Dokin Karfe, and Wassan Maza which is also another movie where I fought for women’s rights. These marked the beginning for me as I still have a long way to go in the industry. If I don’t put in my best and be creative, I am going to be outdated in no time and really, I don’t want that to happen. I want to be known worldwide. I have down a lot of great movies, and I’m happy. Now I think all of that has brought me where I am now, and I think it has taught me a lot.

Why is it that Wasan Maza is most prominent amongst your movies?
It has to do with societal issues centred around a young lady who got married at a very tender age and happened to have friends who are in higher institution. They convinced her to ask for permission from her husband to go back to school which he granted. After securing the admission, she hooked up with some bad friends and started dating other guys. Her attitude changed immediately towards him and she eventually asked for a divorce. It was too late by the time she realised her mistakes.
It is my hope that young married women who find themselves schooling again after marriage would learn a great deal from that movie.

How does the theme of this movie help improve or affect the situation of northern women and Nigerian women in general?
Let’s not say northern women but Nigerian women. The character made those decisions with the intention to succeed but failed and lost the passion of her husband’s love. The distraction and side attraction she permitted in her life ended up destroying her. I am telling ladies not to seek immediate gratification but to think things through properly before they act.

Considering the conservative society which surrounds you, what was the reaction of your family about your career?
Well my family is a very social one, despite the fact that I am from a Muslim home, I am conscious of the fact that whenever someone learns a positive lesson from any of my movies, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala is going to bless me. Without the support and prayers of my family I would not have come this far in my career.

What do you find most interesting about your career?
Hmm, that is interesting. The most interesting is the amount of discounts I get when I go shopping; the free gifts from fans and the willingness of people to assist when I am in difficulty.
Most interesting is when people walk up to me in appreciation saying ‘thank you’ for a message they learnt from watching one of my movies. This really makes me feel good and also makes me want to put in my best at every opportunity I get.
Besides, I contested at the ‘Face of Hope’ (FOH) race last year. I thank my fans who voted and kept me in the race to the last minute where the winner emerged. I am hoping that they find me capable enough to make me the FOH 2011 because with their votes and support, we can take millions of kids off the streets and give them qualitative education.

Who are those that inspire you in the business?
I am inspired by personalities like Julia Roberts, Angelina Jolie, Liz Benson, Kate Winslet, Patience Ozokwo, Oprah Winfrey and others like them who have established themselves in the field and have made landmark achievements. These are great people and I emulate them in every step I take. Again, I don’t believe in guilt, I believe in living on impulse as long as you never intentionally hurt another person, and don’t judge people in your life. I think you should live completely free.

On a lighter mood, its making rounds that you are in a hot romance with a top shot filmmaker in the industry. How true is this?
Nope! I am not in any relationship, but I have close friends.

Aside from acting, what do you do?
I work in one of the government parastatals, I am also an international business woman.

What should your fans expect from you in 2011?
Well, I want to first say a big thank you to my fans for without their support I won’t be here today. You have a lot coming your way, just keep watching. I love you all.

_______
Published February 19, 2011

Memo From The Hospital

2011-03-27T06:01:00.000-07:00

By Al-Amin Ciroma

I was recently struck down with an ailment of such sudden onset and viciousness, that the only rational explanation I could come up with was a normal malaria/typhoid sickness. Going to the hospital is normal, most especially when one drives himself into the premises to see his doctor, probably to seek an advice and drive back home and that was exactly what I thought it could be, but minutes after seeing my doctor, I was immediately given a bed. That’s it I thought! It began at the very time when everybody was preparing for ‘Eid-el-Kabir’ celebration. My doctor therefore, confirmed that it was a assiduous typhoid after the primary test conducted immediately at his laboratory.

My dear brothers and sisters, I am not just telling a story, but to remind us on the etiquette of sickness as thought by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (may Allah Ta'ala be pleased with him and his purest progeny [ahlul-bait - AS]) and how to seek refuge in Allah (SWT) on the ailment. In a Hadith, it was reported that When the Prophet (SAW) would see a pimple on his body he would seek refuge in and humble himself to Allah. He would be asked: “Does it matter, O Messenger of Allah?” He (SAW) would say that “If Allah Ta’ala wanted to turn a minor concern into a major one, He could; and if He (SWT) wanted to turn a major concern into a minor one, He (SWT) could.”

Again, in a related development, Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq(as) said: Truly, there no ache, misfortune, headache or malady but because of a misdeed (sin); and that is (found) in Allah’s saying: “Whatever affliction may visit you is for what your hands have earned; and He pardons much.” And what Allah pardons is more than what He punishes for.” He (as) said: “When the believer experiences a single episode of fever, his sins would fall off as tree leaves would; and if he becomes bed-ridden, his moaning is counted as ‘Tasbeeh’ (glorifying Allah Subhanu wa Ta’ala).”

Accordingly, Ahadiths from the holy Prophet (SAWA) referred ailment as fair share of affliction. In a hadith, (SAWA) said: “What a perfect ailment fever is! It gives each organ its fair share of the affliction; and there is no good in someone who is not afflicted.” He (S) continued, “Having a single sleepless night from an ailment is superior to, and greater in reward than a year’s worship.”

The period I was hospitalised as a result of the unfortunate typhoid fever that resulted into two different series of surgeries gave me another insight and continued imminent of what life means to human beings. Not only that, I come to reflect on different issues pertaining life and death, probably more than before. For almost two months I was wrecked with the sickness and shakes and revolting gastric symptoms, I subsisted on just little spoons of liquids fluid; I was reduced to crawling in the bed since I felt too dizzy to sit up or walk around the hospital premises. This sudden event happened to me at a time when I prepared my travel documents to honour an invitation in Cairo and far away Jordan to attend some international get-together by experts in my field of practice, and most interestingly, I was the only Nigerian invited to such important gatherings, but I could not attend any of them. I momoured, but equally thanked Allah Ta’ala and offered prayers to Him for sparing my life out of the complicated surgeries. Again, that exactly remind me of some sick ryrics by Skip James, saying:
The doctor came, lookin' very sad
The doctor came, lookin' very sad
Your doctor came, lookin' very sad
He diagnosed my case
And said it was awful bad

He walked away, mumblin' very low
He walked away, mumblin' very low
He walked away, mumblin' very low
He said, 'May get better
But he never get well, no mo'

I hollered, 'Oh Lord, Lord, Lordy, Lord
Oh Lordy, Lord, Lord, Lord'
Oh Lordy, Lord, Lord, Lord'
I been so badly misused
An treated just like a dog

I've got a long trip
And I'm just too weak to ride
I got a long trip
And I'm just too weak to ride
I got a long trip
An I'm just too weak to ride
Now it's a thousand people
Standin' at my bedside

All the same, I wish to register my appreciation to all friends and well wishers, who constantly kept praying and offering best wishes in those trying times for my quick recovery. May Allah (SWT) in His infinite mercies reward you abundantly. I also wish to announce that this column (ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE), which suffered little absence from my 'disappearance' shall continue flooring as I am now recovering, even though, receiving last minute treatment. May Allah Ta’ala guide us to the right path, amen. To all, I wish you happy new Islamic and ‘Miladiyya’ calendars (1432 and 2011).

__________
Published January 7, 2011 in my Islamic Perspective column in LEADERSHIP

60 Ways To Keep Love Of Your Wife Assured

2010-10-26T04:01:00.000-07:00

This article is sent to me by a sister, who did this effort in making sure the love between Husband and wife prevails. In other words and as far as this research is concern, women are always there for their spouses, according to the piece, the writer clearly advice men on how to cajole and inveigle their wives on love, in order to foster and keep the marriage train moving-on. Please enjoy:
•(1) Make her feel secure; (‘Sakina’-Tranquillity) QUIT BEING AGGRESSIVE
•(2) When you get home say ‘Assalamu ‘alaikum.’ (Greetings) It kicks the Shaitaan out of your home!
•(3) The Prophet (may Allah peace and blessings be upon him and his purest progeny) described the wife as a fragile vessel and said to take care of this vessel that’s fragile. Remember that there is goodness in this vessel so treat it gently.
•(4)When you advise her, do so in privacy, in a peaceful environment. NOT IN PUBLIC as it’s a type of slandering.
•(5) Be generous to your wife- it keeps her LOVE
•(6) Move and let her have your seat. It will warm her heart.
•(7) AVOID ANGER. HOW? Keep your ‘Wudhu’ (ABLUTION) at all times. The Prophet (S.A.W) said if you are angry, sit down, if you’re sitting, then lie down. Follow the Sunnah!
•(8) Look good and smell great for your wife. It keeps the LOVE!
•(9) Don’t be rigid. It will break you. Prophet Mohammed - Sallal lahu Alaihi Wa alihi wa sallam said, “I am the best amongst you and I am the best to my wives.” Being rigid and harsh will not bring you close to Allah (SWT) and neither does it make you more of a man.
•(10) Listen to your wife--BE a GOOD LISTENER
•(11) YES to flattering NO to arguing. Arguing is like poison in a marriage. Alzawa’i said ‘When Allah (SWT) wants evil for people He will leave them to argue amongst themselves.’
•(12) Prophet (SAW) said to call your wives with the best name, any name she loves to hear. Prophet Mohammed (SAW) called Aisha, “Yaa Aish...” as an endearment.
•(13) Give her a pleasant surprise i.e. if she loves watermelon, bring her one out of the blues. It will grow the love in her heart.
•(14) Preserve your tongue! Prophet (SAW) said the tongue will throw people in the hell fire so watch what you say and how you say it!
•(15) All of us have shortcomings. Accept her shortcomings and Allah (SWT) will put Baraka (blessings) in your marriage.
•(16) Tell her you appreciate her. SHOW her you appreciate her.
•(17) Encourage her to keep good relations with her relatives, her mum and dad, etc.
•(18) Speak to her on a topic of HER interest.
•(19) In front of her relatives praise her. Confirm/ realise that she is wonderful, and that she is a good person in front of her family.
•(20) Give each other gifts. You will love each other more. Prophet (SAW) said gifts increases love.
•(21) Get rid of the routine once in a while, surprise her with something, it will get rid of the rust and polish it!
•(22) Husnul Zaan (good thinking)- We have a demand from Allah (SWT) that we have to think good of people. Think good of your spouse.
•(23) Ignore some of her mistakes- pretend you did not see/hear some of her small mistakes. It was a practice of Imam Ali bn Abi-Talib (as). It’s like putting a hole in your memory. Don’t save it in your memory!
•(24) Increase the drops of patience, especially when she is on her monthly period.
•(25) Expect and respect her jealousy. Even Nana Aisha (RA) used to get jealous.
•(26) Be humble. If your profession is good, respect that she is looking after your children, she is much more than you, she is the leader at home, her strength is your strength, and her success is your success.
•(27) Don’t put your friends above your wife.
•(28) Help your wife at home. The Prophet (SAW) used to help his wives at home and he was the best of creation. He used to sew his own clothes.
•(29) Help her respect your parents, you can’t force her to love them, but she can be helped to gradually love them.
•(30) Show your wife she is the ideal wife.
•(31) Remember your wife in your du'as (prayers). It will increase the love and protect it.
•(32) Leave the past. It brings nothing but pain and grief. It’s not your business. The past is with Allah (SWT).
•(33) Don’t try to show her that you are doing her a favour by doing something, like buying food for the house, because in reality we are the couriers of sustenance, not the providers, as Allah Ta’ala is the provider. It's also a way of being humble and thankful to Allah (SWT).
•(34) Shaitaan is your enemy, not your wife. Sometime when husband and wife are talking a fight breaks out, then shaitaan is present there as a third person so he is the real enemy. It is not enough to hate the Shaitaan, but you have to see him as an enemy as Allah Ta’ala has commanded. Shaitaan loves divorce.
He comes everyday and sits office and asks the devils what they have done, some say I have made a person steal, or I have made someone drink etc. And one devil will say I have made a man divorce his wife, and he is crowned as the one who has done the best job.
•(35) Take the food and put it in her mouth. Prophet (SAW) taught us this. It’s a blessing. The food doesn’t just go to her stomach, but straight to her heart. It increases the love and mercy between you.
•(36) Protect your wife from the evil of the Shaitaan and mankind. She is like a precious pearl that needs protecting from the envy of human devils and Shaitaan.
•(37) Show her your smile. Smile at your wife. IT’S A CHARITY.
•(38) Small problems/ challenges can become a big problem. Or if there is small thing that she doesn’t like and you keep repeating it anyway, it will create a wall between you. Don’t ignore that as it can become big.
•(39) Avoid being had hearted and moody. Allah Ta’ala said to Prophet (SAW) “If you were hard hearted they (the companions) would have left you.” It confirms that Prophet (SAW) was not harsh hearted, so GET RID OF IT.
•(40) Respect her thinking. It’s strength for you. Show her you like her thoughts and suggestions.
•(41) Help her to achieve her potential and help her to dig and find success within as her success is your success.
•(42) Respect the intimate relationship and its boundaries. Prophet (SAW) said she is like a fragile vessel and she needs to be treated tenderly. Sometimes she may not be feeling well; you must respect and appreciate that feeling.
•(43) Help her to take care of the children. Some men think it makes them appear less of a man but in fact it makes you appear a bigger man and more respected, especially in the sight of Allah (swt).
•(44) Use the gifts of the tongue and sweet talk her. Tell her she looks great, be an artist. Pick and choose gifts of the tongue.
•(45) Sit down and eat with her and share your food with her.
•(46) Let her know you are travelling. Don't tell her out of the blue as that is against Islam. Tell her the date/ time of when you are coming back also.
•(47) Don’t leave the house as soon as trouble brews.
•(48) The house has privacy and secrecy. Once you take this privacy and secrecy to your friends and family you are in danger of putting a serious hole in your marriage. This secrecy stays home. Islam is against exposing them out like a garage sale for anyone to come and pick and choose.
•(49) Encourage each other on ibadah, i.e. plan a trip for hajj or umrah together. It increases and strengthens the love when you help each other perform good deeds together i.e., do tahajjud (midnight prayers) together.
•(50) Know her rights, not only written in paper but engraved in your heart and engraved in your conscious.
•(51) Allah (SWT) said: “Live with your wives in kindness.” Treat them with kindness and goodness. It means in happy times and in sadness treat her with goodness and fairness.
•(52) The Prophet (SAW) said that at the time of intimacy. Don’t jump on your wife like an animal! Play with her and arouse her emotions before satisfying your urge.
•(53) When you have a dispute with your wife don’t tell everyone. It’s like leaving your wounds open to germs so be careful who you share your problems and disputes with.
•(54) Show your wife you really care for her health. Good health of your wife is your good health. To care for her health shows her that you love her.
•(55) Don’t think you are always right. No matter how good you are you have shortcomings. You are not perfect as the only one who was perfect in character was the Prophet (SAW) and his purest progeny -- the Ma’sum (infallibles). Get rid of this disease.
•(56) Share your problems, your happiness, and your sadness with her.
•(57) Have mercy on her weakness. Have mercy when she is weak or strong as she is the fragile vessel. The Prophet (SAW) said that your wife is a trust in your hand.
•(58) Remember that you are her strength, someone to lean on in times of hardship.
•(59) Accept her as she is. The Prophet (SAW) said that women are created from the rib which is bent. If you try to straighten her you will break her. He (SAW) said that you may dislike one habit in her but you will like another manner in her so accept her as she is.
•(60) Have good intention towards your wife all the time, Allah monitors your intention and your heart at all times. Allah (SWT) said, “Among His signs is that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect.”
May Allah fill our homes and hearts with tranquillity, love and Mercy. AMEEN!

The Good Side Of An Unfortunate Incident

2010-10-20T16:47:00.000-07:00

EXCLUSIVE CHAT

•Says FKD Productions imitates 2 Effects Empire and Ali Nuhu, not his rival

Sani Musa Danja is a top Kannywood star who has excelled in his acting career. He was the first Glo ambassador from northern Nigeria. He also anchored the artistes’ political movement when he launched his NGO, Nigerian Artistes In Support of Democracy (NAISOD), which cuts across all entertainment players in the country. Not only that, Danja is also a pop singer and lyricist. He is also a renowned film producer. In this exclusive interview with Al-Amin Ciroma, the 2-Effects Empire boss shared his sorrows on the unfortunate accident he had last year, his alleged rivalry with Ali Nuhu and many other issues.Excepts:

Let's start with a flash-back to the accident you had last year. Can you share with us the experience?
First and foremost, I give thanks to Almighty Allah who spared my life, but it was a terrible experience. When the accident occurred, I lost consciousness and was taken to hospital by some people that came around. However, I regained consciousness later due to pains resulting from my fractured legs and arm.

How did it happen? What was the last thing you can recall?
On that faithful day, I set out for Kano with the intention of reaching Maradi, and then to Zinder in Niger Republic to attend a meeting. From there, I planned to come back to Katsina and spent the night at Zamfara. That was my iteneraey for that day and I timed myself properly for that.
I was driving with a friend, Yusuf Dangote, from Niger Republic, when the accident happened. It was a in the afternoon and we had fastened our belts even before setting out for the journey. We were on normal speed, when suddenly we approached a long vehicle parked carelessly on the road although with a hazard sign. I slowed down to dodge it, but from the opposite direction, another car came racing at a top speed on the one way lane. I was shocked and, before I know it, I lost control of the vehicle and that was how the accident that left me with fractured arm and leg happened.

As an actor, did you feel it was just another 'action-packed movie' or a film trick waiting for the director's accent?
(Laughter) Like I told you, I was unconscious after the accident happened around 1 pm. I woke up around 9 pm, so I was unconscious for over seven hours. Therefore, it was beyond my imagination but thank God, I came out of it at last.

How was it like, spending over five months at home?
As a Muslim, I believe one has to accept ones destiny faithfully. I know God has something for me and probably that was the main reason why the incident happened. Once you have faith, God will see you through in any eventuality that may befall you. Those were trying times, but Alhamdulillah, I was able to scale through. However, the four months I spent at home also gave me much time to be with my family. Since I got married three years ago, I don't think I have spent up to two consecutive weeks with my wife at home due to my tight schedules. I equally used the time to watch some of my movies, which gave me the insight to see and identify some of my loopholes and Grey areas in acting.
While I was recuperating, I did some tour in some African countries like Ghana, Central Africa Egypt, including some Francophone countries to pay tributes to my fans and appreciate their goodwill and prayers for my recovery. Thereafter, I produced my first movie, Sai Na Dawo, believed to be one of the most successful Hausa movies of our time. Although,haven’t fully recovered, but I taught myself how to make it work and believe me, 'Sai Na Dawo,' remains one movie that made the highest box-office success within the first weeks of exhibition.

Can you tell us the most memorable -good and bad-moments in your acting career?
It is very hard to recount, but there was a time I visited Niger Republic. On our way, we stopped for a lunch in a village just before the city. People trooped in as usual to have a glimpse of us. I was holding a bottle of water when a group of young girls numbering between 20 and 30 approached me. One of them came directly to me and said, 'Please Danja, kindly let me drink this water.' I smiled at her because of her audacity. I therefore gave her another bottled water, but she refused and demanded for the one I was drinking from. Without any hesitation, I handed over the bottle to her. Before I knew what was going on, all of them came running and struggling to take a sip from the bottle of water. It really amazed me and I was like, am I that special...? I never thought people could appreciate us like that more especially in a country, other than my own.
Recounting memorable moments, however, could be a 'visceral choice.' I mean, it's like a scene in a movie. What I mean here is that an artiste is just like an 'ace in a hole,' always trying to make himself relevant and up-to-date in making sure he satisfies both his producer and the teeming audience, but the end, people call us names. Movie business, especially in the North is still suffering series of criticisms, despite all efforts put together by the filmmakers.
However, it suffices to state that this industry has gone a long way in identifying and addressing many societal ills and menace. You can hardly watch a movie that has zero aim in creating awareness or enlightening people on a particular issue. So people should at least appreciate our effort. You can't expect everybody to be like you, we have our divergent backgrounds, but as a team, the Hausa Movie Industry is always on the fore front in producing movies that aim at restoring peace and correcting vices. In general perspective, movies ought not to have any language barrier. You can shoot a film in Swahili language and it will appeal to a Fulani man, for example. Therefore, my experience as an actor, singer and producer has been a huge help to me in terms of trends in this profession.
So when you ask me to share with you my memorable and worst moments, I think, I would rather re-frame the question to say what are our major challenges? And these are our major challenges in this profession.

Let's talk about your stardom. You and Ali Nuhu are believed to be strong pillars in the Hausa Film Industry. How is your relationship now because there are rumours that you two are no longer on good terms?
(Laughter) Yeah, certainly some rumour mongers are busy going about with insinuations like that, but I can assure you Ali Nuhu and myself are good friends and colleagues. You see, sometimes, people judge from what they see in the movies. We took rival roles in movies and an actor suppose to deliver his/her roles and get perfect characterisation. So when we give our best in the movies acting as rivals, people jump into the conclusion that Sani Danja and Ali Nuhu are enemies in reality. Secondly, our fans also contribute in fueling the arguments. And since both of us have our independent production firms; Ali is the Chief executive officer of 'FKD' productions, while I manage '2 Effects Empire'. So it is a game thing like when you have heated debate between the fans of say Manchester United and Arsenal or Real Madrid and Barcelona football club sides. In all ramifications, we are in good terms.
What could also fuel such insinuations may be how both of us go about our movie production. It was after we produced our movie, Sai Na Dawo, that FKD Productions produced Sai Wata Rana, and again, I produced a movie, Khadijatul-Iman, where I featured my daughter, and they in turn produced Carbin Kwa, which featured Ali's son, Ahmed. Our fans could wrongly deduce from all these that we are enemies or rivals, but professionally, we are competitors. There was also another competition between us on Glo ambassadorship. I was the only artiste contracted from the North before Ali joined me and later others. Again, while Ali made a name in Nollywood, I am equally making waves to the extent of receiving award in the same industry.

Is the relationship between the filmmakers and Kano State government still shaky?
From inception, they had no good intention. They staged war against us and did not mean good to us. There was a faction of the filmmakers who joined the aspirations of censors' board, but at the end of the day, they had to decline. You can imagine the recent scandal that involved the man who staged war against us. It was really indecent for such a public figure to involve himself in sex scandal with a minor. Remember, they were on the front accusing us of lewd and immoral behaviour, but you know God is wonderful. He has truly answered our prayers and yearnings. It is now left for the society to judge who is the righteous amongst the two groups. This is actually an 'egg on the face!

So far how well?

2010-10-20T16:43:00.000-07:00

From The Colonial To Digital Era

By Al-Amin Ciroma (Published in Leadership October 9, 2010)

According to previous research and findings, Nigeria's first contact with cinema was in 1903. It was at the instance of Herbert Macaulay, a foremost nationalist who invited Balboa and Company, who was then doing an exhibition tour of silent films on the West African Coast to Nigeria. The films were shown at the Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos in August, 1903.
The success of the Balboa venture paved the way for an influx of European film exhibitors to Nigeria. Shortly, the colonial government took interest and brought in a lot of films. Distribution and exhibition was restricted to Lagos where they competed with concerts and drama shows and the content of such movies was highly censored. Gradually, however, it fanned out to towns in the immediate hinterland of Lagos and beyond. As the country became more industrialised and urbanised, there was need to establish distribution/ exhibition centres in these new areas and in no time, the branches of the distribution and exhibition companies had spread all over the country.
The colonial government however, did not fully participate in the film business until the commencement of World War II, with the establishment of the Colonial Film Unit (CFU). The unit was charged with making films for the colonies and the objectives of the films were: first, to show/convince the colonies that they and the English had a common enemy in the Germans. To this end, about a quarter of all the films made by the CFU were war-related.
With the attainment of independence, according to historians, the Colonial Film Unit (CFU) became the Federal Film Unit (FFU). But the Federal Film Unit (FFU) still retained most of the functions of the Colonial Film Unit which were the production of films about the country. Also private individuals began to produce and exhibit feature films. However, the searchlight had shifted from colonialism and the need for independence to the need to restrict neo-colonialism. Black became beautiful, a thing to be explored and enjoyed and the colonialists came to be seen as rapists of the rich culture of Nigeria and indeed Africa. Novelists like Chinua Achebe emerged and used creative writing to show the colonialists as disrupters of a noble and pure indigenous culture.
The primary function of the Federal Film Unit was the production of documentaries. These documentaries were funded by the government and sometimes international organisations like UNICEF. The foreign film distributors and exhibitors succeeded in turning attention from the documentaries to themselves. Their cinema houses were filled to the brim with eager viewers and for a long time, they made a lot of profit. Meanwhile, Nigerians became involved in the production of films and in 1970, the first indigenous feature film was produced in Nigeria: Kongi’s Harvest. It was however directed by an American and it featured many foreigners as crew members. With the oil boom, more individuals became involved in the production of indigenous films, including the late Adamu Halilu, Eddie Ugbomah, Ladi Ladebo, Ola Balogun and U.S.A Galadima of blessed memory among others who had been trained during the CFU era.
Apart from the fact that the viewing public was hooked on foreign films, they had problems in the procurement of equipment, manpower, piracy and ultimately in marketing. This killed the zeal of these new-comers to filmmaking. In 1979, the Nigerian Film Corporation was established to provide structural backbone for the development of the industry in terms of manpower training, marketing assistance and infrastructure. A decree validating its existence was released by the government and a facility was allotted to it in Jos, Plateau State but it did not help the industry much. Years later, a National Film Policy was also put in place, but neither did this save the ailing industry from it problems and by the mid 1980s, it was nearly impossible for films to be made on celluloid. Film stocks were expensive to import, and celluloid was expensive to process. Rushes had to be taken abroad for development and other processing. Coupled with that was the harsh economic scenario in the country, thus many filmmakers opted for the use of video tapes as it was more economical, easily accessible and inexpensive to edit unlike the celluloid.
The video film "grew out of the benign bootlegging of music videos in a cassette culture… cannibalising the idioms of the soap opera, from 1980s to the present digital era, thereby facilitating huge development in the labour market. Movies were produced in English and other indigenous languages. The movies that constitued Nollywood include Hausa home videos from the northern part, known as Kannywood, Yoruba home theatre, and remnants from the golden era of the Nigerian cinema.
The appearance of video in Nigeria, plus its popularity, pointed to its importance as a new medium for the production, dissemination and consumption of film as a form of popular culture, with its ideology and aesthetics. The idea of video films was inspired by Yoruba Travelling Theatre and was later introduced by Babatunde Adelusi (Adamson), publisher of a now rested photo-play magazine, who said that the production of video films would not only save the cost of production but would be a good alternative to Indian and Chinese films.
The development did not go down well with the new school of video filmmakers who termed his investments as peanuts and and organised themselves into a group, Jide Kosoko, Adebayo Salami, Gbenga Adewusi and Alade Aromire led them. This regrouping resulted in the appearance of different production companies including Bayowa Films International, Aromire Films, Jide Kosoko Productions and many others. Films began to be produced in large volumes and with film marketers and distributors setting up offices and distribution outlets in Idumota, Lagos, the industry took off.
Video film in Igbo language was silent until the latter part of 1992, when Kenneth Nnebue produced the first Igbo video film in the country, Living In Bondage, which became a major hit among the Igbo audience and was also well accepted by non-Igbo speaking audience. Other Igbo video films followed, Igbo films were produced in either Igbo or English languages.
In recent times, the argument that the Nigerian video film industry, Nollywood is the second largest movie industry in the world in terms of art and business is fast gaining ground. Although, this affirmation seems very untrue and an over-estimation, it is however a statement of fact owing to the state of cinema and filmmaking in Africa currently. The combination of high costs and a western stranglehold on funding and the unavailability of the cinematographic technology in Black Africa is making many young directors in Africa rely on cheaper, often more versatile digital methods both for production (shooting) and exhibition. In the light of this reality where digital video is a fount of hope, Nollywood is indeed the third largest movie industry in the world in terms of its comparative digital edge and also when the number of flicks turned out annually from the industry is considered. A most recent survey conducted by Spectrum Television Media indicated that about four thousand home video films are released by Nigerian filmmakers, an average of ten (10) movies per day; 2,000 of which are censored.
Film is popular culture, just so, the Nigerian home video has come into prominence as a form of entertainment both in Nigeria, on the African continent and indeed the world. Film has visual bias, which gives it universal acceptance, appeal and impact. People the world over enjoy watching cinema. Just like music, TV or radio, they have naturally come to appreciate and embrace it. Today, to Nigerians and Africans both on the continent and in the diaspora, Nollywood is as important as Hollywood or Bollywood.
Nollywood is a purveyor of culture. Film helps to preserve the culture of a people, ethnicity or race from eroding away and this is a focus of implementation of the National policy on Film in Nigeria, Article 4 (3) c, which states that "Film will be produced to protect and promote Nigeria's rich cultural heritage and our national aspirations in the process of development". Nigerian video films portray the way of life of the average Nigerian in the daily struggle for survival, show our belief systems, contemporary as well as ancient culture. People, especially those abroad want to be abreast with issues and happenings in the society as well as relax while doing so. They therefore, turn to the industry. There are major Nigerian video film marketers in the United States, the United Kingdom, other parts of Europe and Asia.
Equally, the northern film circle was anchored by some pioneer filmmakers like Adamu Halilu and USA Galadima both of blessed memory. Halilu produced his first hit film, Shaihu Umar, in 1976. The movie projected some basic Hausa/Islamic aesthetics. Now, while Nigeria is celebrating her 50th anniversary, the giant movie industry, is also celebrating its landmark as being the second largest employer of labour and ambassador of Nigeria in the international arena.

Call For Legislation...

2010-10-20T16:40:00.000-07:00

Why We Must Unite –Clarion Chukwurah

By Al-Amin Ciroma (Published in Leadership September 11, 2010)

A call for unity among Nigerian movie practitioners, started by a veteran star of the picture industry, Clarion Chukwurah, who has represented Nigeria internationally as a dramatist, has received the support of Nigerians at home and in the diaspora. The actress, who has won gold for Nigeria in South America, says that movie practitioners should unite so as to restructure the industry. She said, "I intend to bring all the representative bodies under one umbrella that will represent our industry to the world and place us in a position of strength in law as a private sector industry."
In a world press conference held recently in Lagos, the Nollywood star made it clear that this call for unity is for practitioners from Northern Nigeria, Eastern Nigeria, Western Nigeria, the Niger Delta and the Middle Belt. "The retreat, which is going to be a one-week event, will request all representative bodies of workers and owners of the industry across the nation to interact and brainstorm, so as to work out the modalities for great achievement. It will also cut across two unions: The Nigerian Movie Workers Union and the Nigerian Movie Owners Union," she said.
She added that the present home video industry, being a child of circumstance funded by non-professionals, which has propelled itself to a gigantic industry, began showcasing only Nigerian dramatic film content produced for commerce by independent Nigerian film-makers working in Nigeria.
She said that for 20 years, the industry had defied every attempt at structurisation that will properly reposition it.
The statement further expatiates that each of these unions would be empowered to seek legislation to protect its work and members by paying tax to government. A movie workers union backed by legislation will ensure that no non-union member works on any Nigerian film set, the union will ensure that only professionals work in the industry. It will also ensure that movie workers are paid nothing below the agreed fees, and provide a platform to look at. It will discuss and agree on the issues of royalties and provide a platform for workers to pay tax to the Nigerian government.
With all these in place, a movie owner will need to have the right budget to pay for the right equipment that a professional filmmaker requires to produce the right quality of content, a movie owner will need to have the right budget to pay practitioners and the Nigerian film industry will no longer be an all-comers affair where anybody can just jump into the fray and decide to produce a movie.
To produce a movie you will now need to belong to the movie owners union, or employ a producer from the workers union and produce by both the set rules of the workers union on the one side and the owners union on the other side.
Chukwurah, who has featured in no fewer than hundred Nigerian movies that won awards in international arena said the quality of content of the great summit would mirror the true quality of talents that this country has. Workers will take their time to produce the right content by virtue of the investment in each film and have the proper publicity and marketing network/budget that every film company should have to input into the distribution of each film in order to exhaustively tap profit from the sprawling market available in Nigeria and outside Nigeria.
Asked why the need for sudden union, the ever smiling screen goddess said, “‘Before Hollywood, there was Fort Lee…’ which is to say that before sophisticated structural organisation, there would always be the years of seeming ‘un-organisation’ which are those years every industry spend in cutting her teeth.
Unionisation will correct the un-organised image of the Nigerian film industry, the present impression to corporate bodies, the ordinary Nigerian, the Nigerian government and interested foreign partners.” She said the pinnacle would open the door that foreign film industries have been waiting to walk through to interact with Nigerian film workers and owners based on merit, choice, not reference. Unionisation will enable the Nigerian movie workers to request their right at any time through dialogue or necessary pressure from the Nigerian movie owners without any government interference because these are two market forces dependent on each other for production.
She also said that twice in the past, the Actors and Directors Guilds of Nigeria had called for strikes because members wanted improved working terms. The strikes failed because they are registered only as associations, and not representative of all movie actors and directors in Nigeria. The present coalition of guilds is still not representative of all movie makers in Nigeria, neither can any umbrella body represent workers and owners i.e. employees and employers without creating constant conflicts of interest.
The statement highlights that what is operational in the industry are poorly produced content, poorly paid practitioners, low budget, non-existent product publicity, limited distribution. A Ghana Union influenced market strategy to take over Nigerian Actors’ jobs in Nigeria by Ghanaian actors due to lack of a legislation backed structure that protects Nigerian actors. Equally operational, is the bane of movie owners and their hired producers being given the job of professionals in the face of the guild who are powerless to stop this trend for lack of any legislative backing.
Conclusively, Clarion Chukwurah's call for unity will go a long way in defining the original owners of the business, who are the employers, and all persons or companies who input financially into the production process that results in the end product that is the film content.

Role Model Award: The Day African Youths Stood Still For Me

2010-09-02T08:01:00.000-07:00

The Leadership's Associate Editor, Al-Amin Ciroma, who also anchors one of the entertainment segments of the Leadership newspapers group, was last Satruday, August 28, conferred with the 'African Youth Role Model Award by the African Youth Society. In his speech, the Executive Secretary of the Society, Dr. Olusegun Adeleye states: "It is necessary to state here that the extension of this distinguish Role Model Merit Award to Malam Ciroma of Leadership Newspapers is a great achievement and unprecedented recognition in a country endowed with well over 72 million forthright youths. It is an absolute fact that at his level, and in view of his character and native intelligence, Ciroma has come to be regarded as a the pride of the African youths and our present generation."
Also honoured were former Kano State Governor and Minister of Defence, Dr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, Hon. Prince Timothy Enwubualiri Nsirim, Executive Chairman, Obio/Akpor, Local Government Area of Rivers State and Malam Adamu Abdullahi, Manager NTA Headquarters. Others were Miss Josephine Ojimadu Nwaeze, MD/CEO, News Engineering (Nigeria) Limited, Hajiya Sa'adiya Abdullahi Dikko, President, Customs Officers' Wives Association (COWA) and a Kannywood stop risen star, Samira Ahmed.
Commenting on the award, Ciroma, thanked Almighty Allah for giving adding yet anothe feather to his cap and dedicate his award to his colleagues on the entertainment beat. He also charge African youths to be law abiding and shun all vices that will tarnish the image of the great continent.

An Egg On The Face: Rabo Alleged Sex Scandal

2010-09-02T07:03:00.000-07:00

By Al-Amin Ciroma
The alleged sex scandal of the director-general, Kano State Censorship Board (KSCB), Mallam Abubakar Rabo Abdulkareem brings to mind once again the leaked explicit video of the Kannywood star, Maryam Hiyana in 2007. Hausa film practitioners suffered incarceration and a series of hurdles and impediments as a result of that scandal and since then, the relationship between the latter and the KSCB had the apples and oranges style.
However, Sunday August 22, opened yet another chapter in the history of Kannywood, an episode that marked the end of an era and the beginning of another. The Kano residents were dismayed by what they perceived as alarming news. The contention went down to affect Rabo’s amour propre, who was formerly busy recording his ‘successful strides’ in the bid to sanitise the film industry as well go about punishing those found wanting by his team. It would be recalled that sometime last year, Kano filmmakers alleged that Malam Abdulkareem went on air in one of the Kano State’s independent radio stations and accused them of muddled behaviours. He alleged that the Hausa filmmakers were wayward. Not only that, the KSCB boss extended his gunboat diplomacy to other states across the north, calling them to emulate his ‘good governance.’ In Kaduna for example, the DG in a live programme at an independent television station, accused the filmmakers of producing pornographic films.
The frenzied matter led to swords clashing between the latter and former in court. Moreover, with this allegation, a lot of unanswered questions emerged from all corners doubt the DG’s uprightness and veracity. They opined that there is no point throwing stones when one lives in a glass house. His sympathisers on the other hand view it as a set-up against the Kannywood warlord. Following this development, the Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN), the umbrella body of Hausa filmmakers, issued their stand on the matter, signed by its national president, Malam Sani Mu’azu. They called on the Kano State Governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau to be on top of the matter and act accordingly.

The MOPPAN Story...
We are aghast, as well as dismayed, by the frantic attempts of the Director-General, Kano State Censorship Board, Mallam Abubakar Rabo Abdulkareem, and some collaborators in the Kano State Government and elsewhere to trivialise the serious sex scandal that broke out concerning him last week. We have no iota of doubt that these attempts are meant to discourage any further open discussion on the matter, portray it as an unimportant distraction in the issues of governance in the state, and then sweep it under the carpet.
But Rabo's self-imposed position as a vanguard of morality not only in the Hausa movie industry but also in the Kano society in general makes it imperative to launch a full inquiry into what really transpired on that night of Sunday, 22nd August, 2010. Rabo and the government he represents should not imagine that covering up this matter would be in their best interest because 1) a huge chunk of the good people of Kano State and indeed the whole North are now learning towards to believing the stories around the incident as they presently circulate, and 2) doing so would cast a big shadow of doubt over the Shekarau government's purported entrenchment of Shariah law in the state. Investigating the scandal however, would bring out the truth of what actually happened. It could clear Rabo of all charges/suspicions or expose him as a hypocrite, someone who engages in secret philandering with girls young enough to be his daughters and therefore ill-fit to hold the sensitive position of DG, KSCB.
The story going a round in the public domain, as published by the Sunday Trust of 29th August and Leadership of August 30th, 2010, is that Rabo was discovered by patrolling policemen in the Sharada quarters of Kano City, in his parked car behind a building, off the road in the dark. It was around 10 p.m. When the police approached, he switched on the ignition his car and drove off in a devil-may-care speed. The patrol car pursued him. In his blind haste, he knocked down a pedestrian seriously injuring him. The pedestrian was later discovered to be a staff member of the Kano State History and Culture Bureau. He is still on admission at the Nassarawa Hospital. Rabo was eventually apprehended by commercial motorcyclists, who had folowed in hot pursuit when he refused to stop after knocking down the pedestrian. A teenage girl, who was thoroughly frightened, was found in the car; her underwear was said to have been found in the back seat of the car.
Rabo was eventually taken by the patrolling policemen to the Sharada Divisional Police Station where he was questioned. However, he was allowed to leave with his badly damaged car and the girl that same night by the Divisional Police Officer in strange circumstances.
Both Rabo and the police authorities in Kano have confirmed this incident in their press interviews. What is being contested is what Rabo and the girl were doing at that forlorn place and in that unholy hour. The story being spread is that Rabo was having a carnal knowledge of the girl as many unscrupulous men tend to do under similar circumstances. Rabo has however, denied any wrongdoing, saying that the girl was the daughter of his late elder brother and that she had accompanied him to escort some relatives who had broken their fast at his house.
The government of His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Shekarau must investigate the incident in order to reassure the people of Kano about its sincerity on the implementation of its Shariah programme, about which there are millions of skeptics. And while doing so, Rabo should be ordered to go on suspension pending the outcome of the investigation.
The Motion Picture Practitioners' Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN) hereby proposes that a powerful, independent Committee of Inquiry be set up by the Kano State Government to investigate the various claims in this saga. Some of the questions the Committee should investigate include, but not limited to, the following:
•Who exactly was the girl in Rabo's car on that fateful night? Was it really his niece as he claimed in his press interviews or a different person altogether? How old was she? The girl should be interviewed by the Committee;

•Did Rabo really host his relatives to a Ramadan-breaking meal (Iftar)? Who were they? They should be made to appear before the Committee;

•Why didn't Rabo go with male member(s) of his family when escorting the said in-laws instead of going with the said teenager if at all she exists and was the one that went with him?

• If indeed the girl in question is his niece, is it true that he and she were having a secret affair as is being rumoured?

•What exactly was Rabo doing with the girl at around 10p.m. in a secluded place off the main road?

•Why did Rabo drive off even though the police siren was said to have been blaring, urging him to stop? And why did he run away even after knocking down the unfortunate pedestrian?

•Who were the policemen that arrested him and took him to the police station in Hotoro?

•Exactly what did Rabo say in his first written statement to the police?

•Why did the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Hotoro, release Rabo and the girl together with the damaged car, when investigations were just commencing and Rabo's hit-and-run victim had just been taken to the hospital in a critical condition? Was that a normal police procedure?

•Why did Rabo virtually flee to Saudi Arabia, ostensibly to perform the lesser Hajj (Umrah) a day or two after almost killing a citizen and while having a sex scandal on his hands? Why didn't he wait to clear himself of all charges and ensure that the victim of his hit-and-run accident was in a better condition of health?

•Did Rabo contribute any money to the family of his hit-and-run victim for medication, which must cost a lot?

•Why did some Kano State government officials try to cover up the incident by misinforming the general public that there was no girl in Rabo's car during the incident? Obviously, they had no idea that Rabo had already confirmed that there was indeed a girl in the car. They were also said to have been urging journalists in the state and elsewhere not to break the story and or allow further discussion on it;

•Rabo had claimed that he was aware of certain meetings held for two weeks by some film industry stakeholders or PDP stalwarts with the aim of eliminating him. This serious allegation should be investigated not only by the investigative committee but also by the security agencies; Rabo must tell them where and when those meetings took place, as well as the names of those in attendance;

•Rabo had told the press that officials of the opposition PDP in Kano were responsible for his present ordeal. He must tell the Committee how this was possible and the names of those involved.
Finally, we wish to note that Rabo has since become a liability to the government of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau. He has attracted more negative perception to the government than any goodwill. A more dynamic and people-oriented regime would have relieved him of his post; more so as he has failed woefully in discharging his responsibilities. The good people of Kano State and the nation at large and wonder just why Governor Shekarau has been keeping him in that office even though he has contributed nothing in the direction of sanitising the industry. He has only succeeded in causing more unemployment of the youths that he prevents from earning their legitimate livelihood, encouraged the production of movies that are not censored yet are in full circulation all over Kano, and helped heat up the society.
This Rabo sex scandal is a litmus test for His Excellency Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau's candidature for the presidency of Nigeria. Shekarau, who has announced his bid to run for president under his party the ANPP; he should begin to show that he would be a responsive and responsible national leader when elected by not helping some elements in his present government to cover up this scandal. Doing so would question his motivation and commitment to the enthronement of a decent society in Nigeria.

The Amazing World Of Ali Nuhu

2010-08-24T05:34:00.001-07:00

*His Acclaimed And Dazzling Role In Wetin Dey

Published (August 21, 2010) Leadership Newspapers

By Al-Amin Ciroma
This is the amazing world of Ali Nuhu,whose foray into Nollywood started from Kannywood. Whenever you ask the high sprited actor why he chose acting as career, after studying geography at the university, he would simply say: “I have always wanted to act, since I was a boy. I knew I would act someday, but how it would start was unknown to me.”
His career got started when he read an advertisement. “It was about an audition and they needed cast for a film. That was after my graduation. However, the film that shot me to limelight was a Hausa movie called Dijangala, which bagged the award for Best Hausa Film at the Zuma Film Festival in Abuja, in 2008. Though it was a re-make of the old Dijangala, it was what I needed to be hot in the Hausa film market. Since then, I have been in the Hausa genre of Nollywood before Wetin Dey?”
The TV-soap opera, Wetin Dey? also propelled the acting career of Ali, who is simply known as Sarki or Master of the Game by his colleagues. Getting the role of Ibrahim in the drama series, according to him was by a stroke of luck. “I came in late,” he revealed. Late? Didn’t he want the role from the on set? “Already, they had taken the pilot copy to London for selection but they needed to make changes. I was invited for an audition in Kano and was told that it was a BBC-sponsored stuff. There were four directors on set and, after my audition, I was chosen to play the role of Ibrahim and we were on set for a year and three months.” Ali Nuhu played the role so well you would think he suffered from the deadly virus.
Ironically, he confessed: “I didn’t know about HIV/AIDS or even the stigmatisation of victims until I got on the set. I got to meet HIV positive people and we learnt from them in interpreting our roles. The role of Ibrahim was a true life story of a man who knew he had AIDS and, to cover up, he quickly married his cousin. He was afraid of stigmatisation and discrimination. So he continued covering up his illness until he met his waterloo. I believe the society made Ibrahim who he was and not because he was callous or wicked.”
Based in Kano, Ali’s handsome face has graced many Hausa films and he is one of the most celebrated stars of the Hausa movie world, who have crossed borders. Attesting to the fact that the Kannywood is getting more vibrant daily, Nuhu says their audience is not only northern based. “From Abuja to the East and neighbouring African countries, we are watched and our stars celebrated. In a year, we produce over 200 home videos. The market is really doing well, save for the activities of pirates.”
How has the TV drama influenced his life? “We were fighting a cause, but I was told that people could mistake me for HIV positive person, but I didn’t mind, because we wanted to make viewers know that HIV/AIDS victims are people like us and should not be discriminated against. That was why I put in every skill I have, but some viewers believe I am HIV positive in real life. I am not. I know my status; after all, there is no skeleton in my cupboard. That I play a role on television does not mean that I am that person; roles in movies are meant to be translated accordingly. I am Ali now, but while on set, I could be anybody, based on the script. A true and professional actor should be able to translate the role giving to him very well.”
So, who is this galvanising actor that holds the four aces? To his numerous female fans, who think Ali Nuhu is not married, this is indeed sad news: “I am happily married and I have two kids. My wife is quite beautiful and I would do anything to please her. I even give my scripts to her and anything she would not like, I would not do on set,” he said. Is he saying he would not kiss or touch a woman on set just because his wife would not approve? “Though my wife is a Muslim, she is liberal and believes my profession is important. Often times, my roles on screen could have to do with women and she would not object to kisses or hugs. Romantic scenes are allowed but there is a limit.”
Doesn’t his religion, Islam, forbid it? “I am a professional actor and as long as what I am doing on set is not sinful, my religion would not frown on it. A lot of Nigerians mistake your roles on television or films for the real you. They have forgotten that the real you is different from the actor in you. I could dress scantily on set but would not do that in real life.”
Ask Ali Nuhu if his wife gets jealous over his female fans and he would say: “Naturally, women are jealous and could get possessive over their husbands. I feel for wives of actors when female fans flock around them for photographs, autographs or make calls even late in the night. Naturally, my wife is not a jealous person but there was a time some rumour-mongers were all over town saying I was dating a popular Hausa actress. After an event, I gave the lady a lift and my wife saw us together. She was not angry, but she cautioned me to avoid being seen with that girl, because people could mistake our intentions.”
“There are numerous female fans who would call endlessly. Some would even ask you if you were married, or still single. I would proudly say that I am happily married but there are some stubborn women who would continue beeping and making nonsense calls. When I could not control it, I got a software that helps blacklist some numbers from my hand-set. What the device does is that any number I don’t want to answer would come in as unknown and would not ring. The phone would just beep.”
You would not really blame him because if you happen to be with him a few minutes, Ali Nuhu would have answered numerous calls, say 80 and above, and would also record more than 100 calls, which his hand-set records as ‘unknown.’
An exasperated Nuhu says, “That is how the calls keep coming daily. So, imagine what I would have gone through if I didn’t get that device. Before now, I would receive so many calls that answering calls became a stress.”
What if he is termed as being proud? ”Anyone who is close to me and knows me very well would say that I am not snobbish. There are some calls which come in when I am on set or when I am busy. That I do not pick such calls does not mean that I am pompous or something. That I don’t give attention to some stubborn female fans does not mean Ali Nuhu is a proud actor.”
What about his fans on facebook, Twitter and so on? “It is really amazing, in fact it is beyond comment. I can say, I am really impressed with the way my fans make comments about me on Facebook and Twitter.
I asked him to post a photo on his wall on Facebook. Seconds later, we recorded the following messages and comments, most of them in Hausa language:
•Ghalee Lameedo Ali: Wallahi ba ka da na biyu. Kai ka danne, ka zarce su. U are d best. D best! D best!! kai musu fintinkau.
•Ibrahim Sulaiman: More xpirince on ‘Sai Wata Rana,’ the base actor in the world, Yaya Ali.
•Ibrahim Sulaiman: Help us to gate Adam A. Zango up the ladder for us pls.
•Abdullahi Musa Hadejia: Thank u 4 reviving FKD with dis great film.
•Usman Aliyu: Broda kowa ya bi. Allah Ya kara budi na alheri, amin.
•Rabiu Muazu: This is really interesting, I wish u the best.
•Babs Mohammed: dats nice mutumina
•Hussy Haske: ‘Sai Wata Rana’ rabuwa ba mutuwa ba, kwarai.
•Kabir Isyaku: I was amazed about your wonderful talent before, but i realised that peaople like U are very few in the movie industry. U are special among the specialists. Ur extraordinary talent proved U 2 be the best. Ali Zaki, keep up!!!
•Hadiza Ibrahim: Again! why 3? well, i cant afford to miss it, i luv that movie especially the song.
•Ibraheem El Escape: Sarki, I will try and get my copy with my frnd young zee.
•Yusuf Kabir Maitama: HELLO ALI, SAI WATA RANA IS THE BEST FIM ONE, TWO And THREE.
•Auwalu Capito Hamisu: Wao, film that make fall in love more to to my girl friend.
•Yakubu Laminu: MR. ALI NUHU Akwai wata budurwata da ta nemi kaset na SAI WATA RANA 1 da na 2, ta ba ni in gani, amma abin da na gani yadda ya kasance tsakanina da ita.
•Nasiru Danlami: MUNA SONKA, AMMA DAI A RIKA TUNAWA DA ALLAH( NA CIKIN QUR’AN).
•Yebo Yes: WHY DON’T U CUT THAT AFRO HAIR OF YOURS, JUST DO IT BECAUSE ITS DISTURBING, HONESTLY U R HANDSOME BUT YOU HAIR DOESE'NT DROP ME ANYWHERE.
•Liyatu Simon Tawasu: U are doing well Ali, but dont forget to continue promoting our culture, be at the but side, Nollywood and Hausa films;
•Habila Funtua: Ali may Allah helps u about what ever u do in ur long life.
That is just a brief peak into the amazing world of the great actor, and master of the game, Ali Nuhu. It appears only one or two percent of his fans are acquainted with internet, what if 50% of them could log on to the net to comment on his wall? By then, I won’t hesitate to copy out all my archives in my blog and messages on facebook before the crash on the information super highway.

The Rebirth Of New Nollywood

2010-08-17T06:25:00.000-07:00

MOPPAN REPRESENTED AT CONGA MoU SIGNING CEREMONY

The heads of guilds and association of the Nigerian motion picture industry, on Thursday August 5, 2010, held a historic event of forming a redoubtable organisation that will foster and promote its mandates in order to in their bid to re-brand Nollywood. The congregation, which was tagged Coalition of Nollywood Guilds and Association (CONGA), was spearheaded by the heads of all the guilds and associations.
The event kicked- off at exactly 11:57 am with a comedian Emeka Smith trilling the audience with rib cracking jokes. Nollywood actors, Keppy Bassey-Ekpeyong and Stella Damasus were the hosts of the event. Before the event started, a minute silence was observed for a number of Nollywood actors and actresses that have passed away in recent times.
The MoU signing ceremony and the event Chairman, Mr. Bond Emeruwa, said, it is time to begin to protect the Nigerian film industry with a view to enable it grow bigger and better as well as increase its capacity to assist other emerging film industries all over the world. Having given a voice to the black race and empowering the struggling film makers of Africa how to express themselves using the tube.
Also speaking, Paul Obazele, the Association of Movie Producers' president, said the coalition is working in conjunction with the Interpol and security agencies in the country to ensure that the new guidelines are enforced without hindrance. It will be recalled that the history of filmmaking in Nigeria goes back to 1958 with the production of 'Freedom' by PA John Ifoghale Amata, followed by 'Shaihu Umar' by late Adamu Halilu. But it did not achieve recognition until 1992, this, the coalition committee argued that the time has come for the need to come under one umbrella to promote their common and collective interestr and represent in all matters on their collective behalf thereafter.
Guilds that took part in the MOU signing ceremony include: the Directors' Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), the Actors' Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Nigerian Society of Cinematographers (NSC), Screen Writers Guild of Nigeria (SWGN), Creative Designers' Guild of Nigeria (CDGN), and the Nigeria Society of Editors (NSE). Others are the Film & Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (FVPMAN), the Motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN), and the Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners (ANTP).
Adding colour to the event, a fifteen minute special introductory documentary about Nollywood was shown to the guests. The documentary was in appreciation of Nigeria's movie producers, director's actors and actresses who go through hell in making movies despite the obvious difficulties that the industry is faced with.
In a speech delivered at the event by Bond Emeruwa, the president of Directors Guild of Nigeria [DGN], the movie producer said that they are working towards developing and enhancing Nollywood. "Today marks the beginning of the journey into re-branding the industry. We must all pull our resources together to take our movie industry to the promise land." He said.
Also on the agenda was the issue of piracy and an elixir was proffered. Ambassador Olusegun Olusola who was also present at the event said that the movie industry started years ago with government initiating ideas for the development of the industry. He further urged everyone in the industry including the government and private organisations to support the thriving industry.
On distribution, according to the coalition chairman, Emeruwa, “the coalition wants the National Film and Video Censors Board(NFVCB) to ensure that any foreign film seeking to be distributed in the country is censored in addition to having such film registered with the film and video producers as well as the marketing association of Nigeria with the following; A none refundable fee of $10,000, A censorship certificate from the country of origin, A copyright certificate from the country of origin and from the Nigerian Copyright Commission.
However, noting that the new guidelines were put in place as a further effort to protect and inculcate laudable ethics in the nation's film industry, the coalition remarked that any local film producer who parade one or more foreign artistes in his or her film will be treated as a foreign film at the point of distribution except, a situation where a proof of having satisfied the conditions as stipulated above is demonstrated.
Meanwhile, reacting to this development, Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation, Mr. Afolabi Adesanya, when contacted distanced his establishment from the new policy, saying “they are on their own.”
However, while the new guidelines are a welcome development to the industry, observers have expressed reservation over a possible clash of interest coupled with disagreement with the regulatory bodies.

ZAFA 2010 Set To Rebrand Africa Through Entertainment

2010-08-17T02:31:00.000-07:00

The United Kingdom will again this year host the giant African Films Festival and Academy Awards (ZAFAA) 2010 at its third edition of the awards. The event, which has been slated to take place from 20th to 22nd October, 2010 at the prestigious Troxy Hall, East London, would demonstrate and showcase to African entertainers in Diaspora and the entire world, various great works of art, movies staged by Nigerian great performers in the entertainment industry alongside other African works through cinema exposition.
According to a statement issued by the media director, ZAFAA 2010, Mr. Tony Ogunlana, said, ZAFAA is organised in honour of African Film makers and artistes who have contributed to the development and progress of the African Film Industry in diverse ways.
He said, this years’ event, which was themed ‘Re-branding Africa Through Entertainment’, will host crop of icons in the entertainment industry across the continent. According to him, the three event will mainly focus on the ways of developing movie and tourism industry. “This year’s event will host a special investment forum and cultural festival so as to develop our artiste and expose them to international stage and above all the forum will discuss and open-up movie market for investors.” said Ogunlana.
The event, Leadership gathered will screen a selection of old & new African fiction and documentary features, films and short films from around the continent, as well as classic and less well-known films restored by international archives alongside a public screening programme.
In another development, observers are of the opinion that the African Film Festival is currently the highly regarded and anticipated film event within the African Communities in the UK’s cultural calendar. The festival, according to their analysis, attracts leading international filmmakers, industry professionals and the media together with large public audiences to London for a four day showcase of the best cinema from Africa. Asked on their target audience, the media director said, “We intend to reach the target through a well thought of audience development campaign, which includes the use of questionnaires, speeches at local gatherings, community gatherings like churches, religious venues, peer camps, via huge publicity for the programme on TV, Radio, via the use of flyers and slate advert at stations. Also, we intend to make part of the event free and the other part as low priced and easily accessible for all to encourage as many people to participate.”
The statement further announced that the Nigerian Television Authority, Pak & Partners and Cross Rivers Broadcasting Corporation are the main partners of ZAFAA 2010. Highlighting that the cultural festival will be an avenue where states like Lagos, Cross Rivers, Benue and so on will market their December events in order to woo tourists and investors.

Filmmaking Can Thwart Inter-tribal, Religious Crises –Zainab

2010-08-12T01:03:00.000-07:00

EXCLUSIVELY HOT

An Abuja-based Zainab Ahmad is an indigene of Zamfara State. She attended Bayero University, Kano and is a single parent. An upcoming producer in Kannywood, she entered the industry with zeal to set a pace for new ideas and platforms. In this chat with INSIDE KANNYWOOD, the elegant and charming owner of Ziattar Multimedia, discusses her interest in filmmaking and her new movies, among other issues. Excerpts:

What inspired you to venture into the entertainment industry?
Being an Arien, I am naturally an artistic person. You see, Aries is the most confident of all the zodiac signs Why do ariens have these qualities? First, they are fiery people who are natural leaders. The majority of world leaders have strong fire elements in their charts; although, fire symbolises people who can also be very arrogant and self-centered. An arien is the boss who takes your ideas and motivates and leads all the employees to better sales and marketing, while taking all the credit. Therefore, I got the zeal to doing things, naturally
It may also interest you to know that I’ve loved movies since my childhood days. I loved watching Indian films and nurtured the ambition of becoming a producer/actress. With this determination, I went into production. I started with the thought of producing something different from the Soyayya (love) stories our Hausa filmmakers. I produced a movie that is unique and focuses on something that has been happening in the society, even though, no one thought it is affecting the lives of young girls, in search of greener postures, who ended up destroying themselves for lack of guidance and poverty. The film is titled, Takun Mata, meaning ‘Women premise.’ My second inspiration is setting up a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that would affect our peoples’ lives in a positive way. My dream is seeing both Kannywood and Nollywood come together as one, and see it grow. That would offer a lot of opportunities and employment for the youths in Nigeria.

You are an upcoming producer, tell us how you started career.
I've been in Kannywood for a long time and had nurtured the idea of acting, but my family refused, so I had to hide behind a lot of actors, actresses, and directors to contribute in the little way that i could.

What do we expect from Ziattar in the near future?
A lot.

How would you rate the Nigeria motion picture industry, most especially the Hausa genre?
I believe we are catching up and in no time we will get there.

Do you think Kannywood is catching-up with trends in the motion picture world?
Yes, the northern film industry is progressing. One can tell that something fruitful is in the making. Kannywood is dynamic, films are produced in notable indigenous languages, Hausa, Fulfulde, Nupe, etc. So, this can give you clear proof that the industry has come to stay. A lot of foreign bodies are now coming in for possible collaborations in film business with our practitioners and stakeholders, I therefore believe by the grace of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, Kannywood will consume filming affairs in Nigeria.

How do you joggle your job as a film maker and your home front?
Alhamdulillah, I am blessed with a wonderful mother, sisters and brothers that are always there for me and ready to assist me whenever I need assistance.

Would you say there is any difference between filmmaking at present and what it was before?
Definitely yes. The environment is now enabling, we are beginning to see the light of the day. I foresee real success in this business. I pray for God’s guidance and protection.

What would you say makes you unique amongst your peers in Kannywood?
You know people differ in many aspects. In my capacity as a small-time producer, I would want people to know that my stories are unique, and inimitable, in the sense that they touch issues related to human interest that appeal to all ages. I don’t limit my scope on normal, ‘flat’ stories.
Our people need to be well informed, the society is full of numerous vices, strange things happen in our daily lives, so why can’t we find a way of addressing them? If you agree with me, filmmaking is one of the ways of disseminating information to people, in order to educate, enlighten and entertain them. We can use a medium like this to thwart all inter-tribal differences and foster religious tolerance to our communities, so as to allow peace reign.

What do you think helped your career blossom as much as it did? Do you think you have a rival?
A rival? Not at all. Rather, I have people that over the years have become more like family to me in the industry. I don't know what I would have done without their support and guidance.
Talking about my success, I think it is not yet uhuru, but you know, my mother and sisters are the secret behind my success.

Any regrets?
My only regret is that my father is not alive today to share this moment with me.

When you are not on set, what is your day like?
I have a couple of other activities. I am a very busy person, I have a project now on ground, which requires my attention. I am setting up an NGO.

What is the craziest thing you have ever done as a filmmaker?
Believing I could mix work and pleasure.

Without doubt, the industry has been lucrative, having strive so long and made your mark over the years, how wealthy would you say you are?
Alhamdulillah, I thank the Almighty God, I love what I am doing and I’m contented with what comes out of it.

It is generally believed that film makers or movie producers are flirts especially with actresses, do you do that too?
No, why? I don’t believe you. It is just a mere tittle-tattle, I don’t think my colleagues do that as well.

Is it true really that some producers/directors sexually harass actresses?
I have never encountered such behaviour. You should know that in any society, there are some few bad-aces who aim at tarnishing other people’s images. So even there are cases like this, I assure you they are just minorities.

Although, in the North, the industry is bound by some Shari'ah laws, have you had an experience where an actor tried you to seduce you to get roles?
(Laughter) Not even in my dreams...

It is very important because readers would want to know how you wriggled out of such situations.
That is if something like that ever happened. I ’ve never had that experience in all the years I’ve been in the Industry.

You mean if a handsome man, gives you the 'green light', you won't respond?
Here you are again! What do you want from me? (Laughter again) I have said it earlier, business is always business, ok! Personally, I am hooked up with someone, we adore each other and we try to avoid hurting one another.

Actors are usually associated with a lot of scandals, as a movie producer, have you been involved in any?
Twice, but that was a long time. Believe me, it is one of the things I bury deep inside me and hate to revisit.

How did you manage and overcome them the scandals?
Is not easy, but knowing deep inside me that I never and would never do what my enemies fabricated made me feel better deep inside me. Believe me, it is one of the things that made me strong mentally, emotionally and psychologically. That is what makes me ignore what people said, and it helped me move on in life and made me follow my heart’s desire, and I can now say, Zainab is truly a happy person.

You are now a single mother. Can we say you are searching for another suitor?
As a Muslim, I believe its just a matter of time. Ive been in a serious relationship since after the crash of my marriage, its only Allah that knows why we are not married up to now. But God knows best and we leave everything to Him.

Don’t you get pressured about your single status, despite your success?
Of course there are pressures, but as I said earlier, I have someone I love and believe he loves me too, and I can’t compare him with anyone.

Tell us about him.
Sorry I don’t discuss my love life in public (laughter).

Can you marry an actor?
If it is the wish of Allah Ta’ala.

What has filmmaking done for you?
I have been a happy person because I love what I am doing, I meet people. One of my most memorable moments was at the just concluded Terracota Awards 2010 in Lagos. I was given honour of presenting about seven distinguished awards. I feel highly honoured.

How do you see Kannywood now?
Kannywood is a child of necessity; with all the hardships, it is yet blossoming.

What are your dreams and aspirations?
My dream is to see Kannywood grow as strong as Hollywood.

What is your worst fear?
My worst fear is loosing my mother.

Who is your role model in the industry?
Late director, Tijjani Ibraheem.

What was your worst moment and your most memorable day since you ventured into the industry.
My worst moment is waking up to see someone from nowhere trying to destroy this giant industry, without the thought that it is the career of some people and their source of livelihood, due to their distorted understanding of the religion. One of my happiest moments the day my people decided to call a spade a spade, by standing to fight the wickedness and injustice mated out on us for years. That made me so happy. We must say no,and also fight for our rights.

How do you unwind?
I love to relax by reading and watching movies, and hanging out with friends.

What do you have to tell your fans across the globe?
I want to thank them for their support, and want to wish them Allah's Blessings and guidance.

Some Faces of Glamour @ TERRACOTTA, 2010, Lagos - NIGERIA

2010-07-28T13:23:00.000-07:00

Richard Mofe & Co.

BEST ACTRESS-Terracotta 2010, Joke Silva (third left) making a comment after recieving her award, presented by Nuhu Tahir and Zainab Ahmad Attar

From Left: BINTA Yahaya, NUHU Tahir (Cool Coffee), AL-AMIN Ciroma and ZAINAB Ahmad Attar, representatives of KANNYWOOD at the event

Nollywood's award winning director, Lancelort Imasuen at Grey Carpet of the event

Glitz & Glamour At The TERRACOTTA Awards 2010

2010-07-28T13:06:00.000-07:00

Published July 24, 2010 (LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPERS)

By Al-Amin Ciroma
10 Degrees, Ikeja Lagos, on the 17th of July, 2010, hosted crop of Nigerian artistes, creme dela creme of the Nigerian movie industry and dignitaries to the TERRACOTTA AWARDS 2010, whose objective was to celebrate excellence with regard to talent and creativity in the Nigerian film and television industry.
This year’s event, which was set to promote and emphasize the historical, intellectual,cultural and tourism context and content of the Film and Television industry, was themed ‘Imagine Life Without Television.’
The event, Inside Kannywood gathered was created to promote and sustain a healthy competition, with a view to continuosly raise the anteby progressively increasing industry standards in quality, depth, excellence and creativity. It was also window for promoting socio-cultural excellence, empower youths and women, and celebrate the can-do spirit of the Nigerian, through the Terracotta Ambassadors platform, in this generation.
A statement from the organisers also revealed that the event, which came at a time when there are plethora of awards all over the country, Terracotta Awards in this milieu, seeks to stand out from the crowd through the depth and quality of event outputs, coupled with processes which among others will have deep cultural, intellectual and tourism content. Being the first Nigerian film and televison awards is the bold activation of a dynamic process which primarily aims at fulfilling its stated objective, the statement added.
A lot of Nigerian film and TV stars received awards. The renown Nollywood director, Lancelort Imasuen, received a lot of awards for his movie, Home in Exile. He emerged as the Best director, 2010. Others include Joke Silva, who emerged as the Best Actress for role in Champion of our time, while Desmond Elliot emered as Best Actor for his role in Home in Exile, among others.
Also honoured with special recognition of life time where the veteran Kasimu Yero, a.k.a ‘Uncle Gaga’ in Cockrow At Dawn and Chief Ambassador Segun Olusola, mni, OFR, founder, African Refugee Foundation.

Tax Incentives Creates More Vibrant Industry –Adesanya

2010-07-28T02:55:00.000-07:00

Published July 17, 2010 (Leadership Newspapers)

By Al-Amin Ciroma

The Nigerian motion picture industry is set to benefit from tax incentives that will promote film production in Nigeria and boost the fortunes of film makers.
This was the thrust of the Public/Stakeholders Forum which got underway in Lagos last week Thursday. Attended by a cross section of motion picture practitioners, independent television producers, heads and leaders of motion picture associations and guilds, representative of the National Film & Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and a cross section of the media. The Forum was intended to present the proposal on Tax Incentives/Reliefs being sought to be recommended to government for implementation.
The exercise organised by the joint committee of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and the FIRS marked the first leg of the public presentation of the proposed Tax Incentives to stakeholders for their input.
Speaking at the forum, Afolabi Adesanya, Managing Director/Chief Executive of NFC, said that the proposed Tax Incentives being sought will create a “More vibrant film industry, generate more employment, raise the level of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the sector, and generate more revenue and income.”
Boosting the pool of funds available for the development of the film industry, outside government treasury, and the promotion of socio-cultural development, Adesanya said, also accounts for the proposal, stressing that there is the urgent need to integrate film into the economic development of the country.
The next leg of the Forum/Stakeholders Forum is scheduled to take place in Enugu and Kano States respectively.

Mind-Boggling: Rabo Vs Filmmakers-The Hunter Hunted

2010-07-28T02:48:00.000-07:00

Published on 10th July, 2010 (Leadership Newspapers)

By Al-Amin Ciroma

My heart bleeds each time I browse through the internet, or pages of national dailies, which often report the unending feud between the director-general, Kano State Censorship Board (KSCB), Mallam Abubakar Rabo Abdulkareem, and Hausa filmmakers; a show which is opt to portray the steep side of the ace in the hole.
However, even when one tries to 'put his heart in the right place,' the result is always frustrating, come to think of it, every parent is expected to see to the proper upbringing of his child, I wonder if at all, both parties have in the past imbibed a sense of sine qua non in order to achieve a particular thing in common, but never the twain shall meet.
The fracas between the two parties reignites immediately, after the leak of a nude video clip of one of the actresses in the Hausa film industry. Inside Kannywood gathered that long before the KSCB's boss assumed office as its alpha and omega, the relationship between movie makers and Rabo (then the Hisba commander), was not a smooth one. The feud, according to commentators, rekindled when the latter mounted the helm of affairs of the Kano State Censors Board. In his campaign to sanitise the industry, the Abubakar Rabo-led board, aimed at infusing wisdom in the Hausa film industry, with a view to brazen out all social disorders in order to encourage producers to produce high quality movies, which depict the true Hausa cultural heritage and with an Islamic flavour, lost out as the stated objectives of the board seemed to take a different angle far from achieving its true mission.
Apart from the indiscriminate and unsystematic incarceration of movie makers, nothing else seemed to be the board's major priority. A lot of producers, marketers and actors were detained, while practitioners, who commented on the saga were of the opinion that the record of random incarceration of practitioners of nascent industry were full of question marks. It also portrayed the Governor Shekarau system of 'rewarding for excellence.' A filmmaker, who spoke in anonymity, recalled that Shekarau's 2007 campaign organisers took advantage of Hausa movie stars in propelling his way into second term in office. "We were fully committed in the 'Allah Maimaita,' (prayers for second term) campaign of Governor Shekarau, with full support for his mandates, but immediately he assumed office for the second term, we became his prey. The unfortunate Hiyana incident is a sad one, and we all condemned her act, but when Rabo was appointed as chief censor, giving him mandate and power (at his discretion) to counter ill vices and regenerate the industry, we all accepted him with one heart, but gradually, he began to use his power to suppress us." He said. Adding that it will be difficult for one to account for the KSCB's success in regenerating the industry. The prominent movie icon, further highlighted possibilities in rejuvenating a certain corrupt society, he said, "What they fail to understand is that no matter what, you cannot change a society or community without giving room for comprise and understanding. But the way things are happening in Kano State clearly portrays their intention on waging a war against us. "Can anyone tell me a single thing that the KSCB has achieved over the years?"
The most debatable arrest from the series of incarcerations by the board was that of Hamisu Lamido Iyantama, a renowned producer, for allegedly releasing his movie, Tsintsiya in Kano State. The board claimed that Iyantama is operating a non registered company, Iyantama Multimedia, which the producer and chairman of the company claimed as false. Iyantama argued that his company has been dully registered with the corporate affairs commission for over 15 years.
What baffled me is that after successfully conquering filmmakers from their home state, being forced to abscond and migrate to neighbouring states , the Rabo-led 'army' still extended its tentacles to Kaduna, in a bid to subversively call on the general public to move against the filmmakers. That again, provoked movie makers, most especially, Kaduna-based filmmakers, who enjoy a cordial relationship with its state government, and the people of the state. In a live television interview, Mallam Abubakar Rabo alleged that pornographic movies were being produced in Hausa. This engineered the Kaduna filmmakers' caucus to file suit against Mallam Abubakar Rabo, calling for justice. The case turned into a drama of sorts when the accused never for once honoured the court's summon. When a bench warrant was issued against Mallam Rabo, he secured a court injunction against his arrest. Not only that, the KSCB boss also lodged fresh charges against Kaduna movie makers in Kano saying, they threatened him with periled text messages. He called on the Kano State police command to act accordingly.
An editor of a Hausa entertainment magazine, Fim, Aliyu Abdullahi Gora II, fell victim as one of the accused persons in the ploy by Mallam Rabo. On the evening of Wednesday, June 30, the editor, Gora was in his office, when he received strange visitors from the police command, who arrested him, locked him up, and took him to Kano the next day for prosecution. They immediately took him to court but unfortunately, the judge was not in court, so Gora ended up being remanded in prison.
At last Monday's hearing of the case, Magistrate Halima Nasiru, of the Chief Magistrate Court 25, presided over the case. Upon listening to charges brought against the journalist, and the ensuing bail application, granted him bail on the condition of a surety on level 17, and resident in Kano, or businessman with an established registered company.
Earlier, the court listened to the police prosecutor, Saleh Umar, who presented the accused as a suspect for criminal intimidation charges, which he said, contravened section 341 of the Criminal Procedure Court (CPC). Adding that if found guilty of the offence, the accused will be sent to seven years imprisonment based on the provisions of relevant sections of the law.
Counsel to the accused, Barrister Tajudeen O. Funsho, prayed the court to admit the accused on bail, arguing that since the charges are not conclusive on the alleged offence, the accused journalist can be granted bail.
However, the prosecutor countered the position of the lawyer and prayed the court to remand the suspect in prison while the case was ongoing, saying that allowing the suspect to walk free may tamper with the judicial process.
Barrister Funsho, on his part, said since the suspect was never found wanting in any similar situation in the past, there was no reason that he should not be granted bail. After listening to both parties, Magistrate Nasiru granted the accused bail and adjourned the case to July 27.
Magistrate Nasiru Lere of Magistrate Court, Ibrahim Taiwo road, Kaduna, adjurned the case between Mallam Rabo and Kaduna filmmakers to July 13 for proceedings. Earlier on, counsel to the complainant, Barrister Sadau Garba, on June 28, argued that the accused, Mallam Rabo, who secured an injunction against the bench-warrant is not above the law. Adding that his clients, the complainants are law abiding citizens of Nigeria, and hence, the frequent court sessions. He called on the court to continue the proceeding.
On the exparte application, Barrister Sadau argued that the Kaduna magistrate court is not under Kano State and as such, the order is void. Saying that since his clients are not party to the injuction order by the accused, there was no reason for the complainant not to proceed with the case. "I humbly apply that the matter be transfered to the State Security Service (SSS) for further interrogation, since the complainants are here to seek justice and the accused person, failed to honour court summons." The presiding judge Magistrate Lere, having heard both sides adjourned the case to July 13 for further proceedings.
The time has now come for the master to be on the stump. Certainly, the hunter has now become the hunted.

Defamation: Rabo’s Defence Counsel Withdrew From Case

2010-06-16T06:53:00.000-07:00

The trial between the Kaduna State Filmmakers and Director-General, Kano State Censorship Board (KSCB), Malam Abubakar Rabo Abdulkareem has taken a new dimension. Prior to yesterday’s sitting at Court One, Magistrate Court, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Kaduna, a Kano State High Court presided over by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Shehu Atiku has issued an order barring police from arresting or detaining the KSCB boss.
The case, which is presided over by Chief Magistrate Nasiru Idris Lere, has yesterday end with a dramatic session as the counsel of the accuse, Barrister Gideon Didam, honourable withdrew with his team of lawyers from the case on grounds of protecting their professional integrity. “We are completely ignorant of the court order restricting the arrest of our client. We are in this vain, going to allow the judicial court to take its position, may be that is why the accused is absent today.” Said the defence counsel.
Similarly, the counsel to the complainants, Barrister Sadau Garba, represented by Barrister Mohammad Sunusi, argued that the said order from the Kano high court seems not authentic as the document was a photocopy instead of original. Sighting technical inferiorities, Barrister Sunusi disputed the order under section 158/D&E of CPC. He urged the court to continue the proceeding.
The Chief Magistrate, in his ruling said the court will ignore the matter to avoid judicial rascality. Adding that the registrar of the court will forward the said order to the Kaduna State Anthony general for verification and further directives. Meanwhile, June 28, 2010 was fixed for further hearing on the case.

My Christian Neighbour

2010-06-04T12:53:00.000-07:00

By Ustaz Abubakr Siddeeq Mohammed (Published today in Leadership)

If Allah willed He could have made all of us of one faith; but He left us as we are, professing different religions. Are we to express dissent of the others by killing them and expelling them from their homes because they are not indigenes or believers? Or, are we to despise and treat them wrongly for being unbelievers? If we are to exhibit any of the above traits, would we then not be repelling people from our creed by tyrannous and abhorrent behaviour? Why don't we instead invite people to our way of life with good conduct, handsome neighbourliness and beautiful exhortation with wisdom and pleasing evangelism?
I did not know what was on the mind of my Christian neighbour when he first saw me and my family in a compound of seven flats before he finally moved in as a new tenant. With all the misrepresentations about Islam floating freely via the airwaves and satellite television worldwide, of terrorism and killing in the name of God, seeing a Muslim televangelist living amidst your new place of abode will stir aversion in many non-Muslims. They were not apparent the goings on in the mind of my new neighbour and his family. Well, as for me I was not disturbed a bit. I only hoped that he be among those Christians described in the Qur'an as “Among them are good people..." (Ali Imraan 3:110); those who are knowledgeable about the texts of the Holy Bible as regards the rights of their neighbours; those who shall not avenge or bear any grudge against the children of their neighbour (Leviticus 19:18); those who shall love God with all their heart, and with all their souls, and with all their minds; and their neighbour as themselves (Luke 10:27); those who shall not covet, debauch the wife of or bear false witness against their neighbours (Romans 13:9); and those who shall love their neighbour as themselves (Galatians 5:14, James 2:8 ).
Why should I be uncomfortable for seeing a Christian coming to be my neighbour when the Qur'an teaches me that: "And nearest among them in love to the believers will you find those who say, 'We are Christians;' because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant." (Al-Maa'idah 5:82) That is the description I found of the Christians in my Glorious Qur'an. So, should I be afraid of such a person being my neighbour?
Moreover, many traditions of the Prophet, blessing and peace be upon him, teach me his way of dealings with Christian and Jewish neighbours as well as a Muslim neighbour who is not related, and one who is of kin. I learn from these sources that: "Let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day either speak good or keep silent, and let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day be generous to his neighbour..." And my faith is not complete until I like for my neighbour what I love for myself. Why will I not be kind to my neighbour when my religion tells me that unless my neighbour is immune and secure from my wrong conduct I may not enter Paradise? Arc Angel Gabriel impressed upon the Messenger of Allah, blessing and peace be upon him, that he should treat his neighbour kindly until the Messenger of Allah started thinking that one day Gabriel may bring a pronouncement from Allah instructing that a neighbour should share in the inheritance of a deceased neighbour!
Interestingly, it was not long before I and my family made a startling discovery in the relationship between us and our Christian neighbour. We were not only neighbours but actually regard ourselves as a family. When did the chemistry between the two families, the one Christian, the other Muslim, develop and mature to this interesting state? Nobody can say. Doubtless, the two have shown the teachings of Islam and Christianity by their words and actions, recognising the rights and privileges of a neighbour. None will park their cars where the path of the other would be blocked. Our quarters were devoid of rancour or the slightest of sound from electrical appliances that would constitute public nuisance and disturb the peace of any flat.
If anything should befall my household, my wife would contact my Christian neighbour before other Muslim tenants in the compound. Is this because his flat is the closest to mine; or is it due to the fact that this Christian respects the principles of good neighbourliness more than others who profess the same faith as me in the estate? Few weeks ago my wife was struck by an ailment that made her so infirm that she could not drive. I had travelled out of the country at the time. It was my neighbour's wife, a Christian also, who took her to the hospital. It did not end there. At the hospital there was a long queue of patients; nobody paid attention to the critical condition in which my wife was. My neighbour's wife knows the owner of the private hospital so she called him. Her tone smacked of a very close familiarity or command; or was it because she works with a government parastatal that oversees private hospitals in Nigeria? "Mr. Lovett," she began, "what are you people doing in this hospital? I've an emergency case here and nobody seems to care...; my sister is dying!"
Whatever was the response from the other end nobody overhead; my wife's case was treated with military dispatch after the intervention of my Christian neighbour! What would have happened if she was not there? Allah knows best.
Whenever his relatives come visiting Abuja, my Christian neighbour will bring them to my house for 'formal introduction of another member of the family'. He will always say "Ustaz Siddeeq is more than a neighbour. His family is part of our family." Yes, he is right. I accept entirely what he said. I've never met somebody like him. I'm proud to have such a Christian as my neighbour!
My neighbour’s wife brings fresh bread to my family daily. For about five years now, my family takes breakfast with bread that our Christian neighbour brings after office hours every day. Not only that; we exchange delicacies peculiar to our different geo-political zones. They bring us moi-moi, ogbono soup, etc; and whenever we have miyar kuka on our menu we take to them. My neighbour's wife likes miyar kuka so much that she can make a request for it at any time whether it is part of what we will eat on that day or not. Her request is always granted.
During Christmas my neighbour would ask me: "Shall I kill a ram or a goat?"
A strange question indeed; but I understood that he desires that I partake in eating the Christmas feast. Therefore, he does not want to offer me what I may not like to eat. So, I said: "Why don't you slaughter a ram?"
"Okay; a ram we shall kill" was the response
“Why kill when you can slaughter?”
"Ustaz," my neighbour will say, "kill or slaughter the animal will eventually die. When I bring the ram you will come and do the killing, sorry, slaughtering...." and we all laughed...
But the question is will I and my family eat of the meat if he were to slaughter it? Our scholars taught us that what is not allowed is a situation where a non-Muslim slaughters animals for Muslims to eat; but if a non-Muslim of the People of the Book (a Jew of a Christian) slaughters an animal (that is lawful to Muslims) for his own use according to the instruction of their religion, a Muslim is free to eat such meat. So, most assuredly, I and my family would eat of whatever halaal food my Christian neighbour offers. The Qur'an says: "This day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them..." (Al-Maa'idah 5:5)
And so it is; every year he brings food to my house and I to his on our various religious ceremonies. Before I travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah in Ramadan or Hajj I leave my children to the supervision of my Christian neighbour; and if any of these religious journeys falls during school holidays and I travel with the entire family the custody of the keys to my house and vehicles is left with my Christian neighbour! Whoever will clean the house before our return or warm the cars would have to liaise with him for the keys.
One day his sister in-law approached my wife on the issue of a Muslim suitor. She said she wanted to become a Muslim before their marriage. I told her that it was not necessary to embrace Islam before marrying a Muslim; that she can remain a Christian and marry a Muslim if that is what she prefers. I also mentioned to her that Islam should come out of conviction as there is no compulsion in religion. She said: “Sir; if the Islam I see in you and your family is what obtains in his house I have no objection to becoming a Muslim!”
My brother has another shining example of a Christian neighbour. In the compound where he lives, he has eight neighbours. Only two of these eight are Muslims. Of the six non-Muslims, two are Igbo by tribe and one is Yoruba, he could not determine the exact tribes of the remaining. The Muslims are from Edo and Adamawa respectively.
The Igbos are comprised of a family of six and a single lady who has recently completed her youth service and is currently without a job. It is this single lady that interests me.
Ada (not her real name) is quite young and amiable. She works hard to eke a living even as she has no particular job. She would often seek the advice of my brother’s wife on many issues ranging from the latest job proposition, which involves her sleeping with the boss to her latest worries over her fiancé. The fact that this woman (my brother's wife) wears a face veil does not in any way hinder this lady.
As Allah would have it, my brother's children took ill and he was about to take them to hospital in company of his wife. Ada saw them and inquired "Hajiya, lafiya?" This means "Hajiya is everything alright?" When she realised what was happening, she volunteered to follow them to hospital. What the couple did not know was that she was billed to supervise a building project and to pay the labourers. She remained with the couple in hospital and actually missed that day's work. Only after the event did she mention this to my brother's wife.
On a second occasion, one of the same children was ill and the family spent the greater part of the night in hospital. Ada was there again helping without the slightest hint that she was tired and hungry. Had it not been that she had been with my brother's wife all day, she would have assumed that her repeated refusal to take food was because she had eaten some food. It turned out she was hungry but she worried that she would further deplete the funds my brother had if she decided to order food! In contrast, his Muslim neighbours looked on and hardly asked after the child's health.
He told me countless random acts of kindness this person demonstrated to his family including at one point loaning my brother's wife money meant for her house rent to meet up with an urgent expense!
This is what good neighbourliness should be. We are able to achieve this understanding through mutual respect and appreciation of our differences. Yes, my neighbour is a Christian; I am a Muslim. I do not share the faith he professes; I am a non-believer in his religion, and he, a non-believer, in mine. It actually stops there. My household does not use the Hausa word arne to describe a Christian because it is derogatory and unIslamic. Arne refers to idol worshipers and the agnostics. My neighbour has a religion, worships God and the Glorious Qur'an calls him a Christian. I will therefore have no better description to my Christian neighbour than that used by Allah, the creator of all in His Book.
If anyone wants to harm me they can as well harm my neighbour. If anyone tries to injure or kill my neighbour then they would have to kill me first because it is a religious duty on me not to allow evil reach my Christian neighbour!

Islamic Higher System Of Morality

2010-06-04T12:48:00.000-07:00

By Al-Amin Ciroma (Published in Leadership Today)

Respect and care for parents is very much stressed in the Islamic teaching and is a very important part of a Muslim's expression of faith.
“Your Sustainer has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in your lifetime, do not say to them a word of contempt nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor. And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility and say: My Sustainer! Bestow on them Your mercy, even as they cherished me in childhood.” (17:23-24).
On other relatives, Allah (SWT) said: “And render to the relatives their due rights, as (also) to those in need, and to the traveler; and do not squander your wealth in the manner of a spendthrift.” (17:26).
The Prophet (SAW) has said: “He is not a believer who eats his fill when his neighbor beside him is hungry"; and: "He does not believe whose neighbors are not safe from his injurious conduct.”
Actually, according to the Quran and Sunnah, a Muslim has to discharge his moral responsibility not only to his parents, relatives and neighbors but to the entire mankind, animals and trees and plants. For example, hunting of birds and animals for the sake of game is not permitted. Similarly, cutting trees and plants which yield fruit is forbidden unless there is a very pressing need for it.
Thus, on the basic moral characteristics, Islam builds a higher system of morality by virtue of which mankind can realize its greatest potential. Islam purifies the soul from self-seeking egotism, tyranny, wantonness and indiscipline. It creates God-conscious men, devoted to their ideals, possessed of piety, abstinence and discipline and uncompromising with falsehood, It induces feelings of moral responsibility and fosters the capacity for self control. Islam generates kindness, generosity, mercy, sympathy, peace, disinterested goodwill, scrupulous fairness and truthfulness towards all creation in all situations. It nourishes noble qualities from which only good may be expected.
Islam has laid down some universal fundamental rights for humanity as a whole, which are to be observed and respected under all circumstances. To achieve these rights Islam provides not only legal safeguards but also a very effective moral system. Thus whatever leads to the welfare of the individual or the society is morally good in Islam and whatever is injurious is morally bad. Islam attaches so much importance to the love of God and love of man that it warns against too much of formalism. We read in the Holy Quran:
“It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards East or West; but it is righteousness to believe in God and the Last Day and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask; and for the freeing of captives; to be steadfast in prayers, and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which you made; and to be firm and patient in pain (or suffering) and adversity and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-conscious." (2:177)
We are given a beautiful description of the righteous and God-conscious man in these verses. He should obey salutary regulations, but he should fix his gaze on the love of God and the love of his fellow men.
We are given four heads:
Our faith should be true and sincere, we must be prepared to show it in deeds of charity to our fellow-men, we must be good citizens, supporting social organisations, and our own individual soul must be firm and unshaken in all circumstances.
This is the standard by which a particular mode of conduct is judged and classified as good or bad. This standard of judgment provides the nucleus around which the whole moral conduct should revolve. Before laying down any moral injunctions Islam seeks to firmly implant in man's heart the conviction that his dealings are with Allah (SWT) who sees him at all times and in all places; that he may hide himself from the whole world but not from Him; that he may deceive everyone but cannot deceive God; that he can flee from the clutches of anyone else but not from Allah.
Thus, by setting Allah's pleasure as the objective of man's life, Islam has furnished the highest possible standard of morality. This is bound to provide limitless avenues for the moral evolution of humanity. By making Divine revelations as the primary source of knowledge it gives permanence and stability to the moral standards which afford reasonable scope for genuine adjustments, adaptations and innovations, though not for perversions, wild variation, atomistic relativism or moral fluidity. It provides a sanction to morality in the love and fear of God, which will impel man to obey the moral law even without any external pressure. Through belief in God and the Day of Judgment it furnishes a force which enables a person to adopt the moral conduct with earnestness and sincerity, with all the devotion of heart and soul.
It does not, through a false sense of originality and innovation, provide any novel moral virtues nor does it seek to minimize the importance of the well-known moral norms, nor does it give exaggerated importance to some and neglect others without cause. It takes up all the commonly known moral virtues and with a sense of balance and proportion it assigns a suitable place and function to each one of them in the total scheme of life.

Senator Bent: Honoured Home And Abroad

2010-06-04T12:43:00.001-07:00

Senator Grace Bent represents Adamawa South Senatorial Dictrict in the National Assembly. AL-AMIN CIROMA takes a look at this colourful lawmaker whose exploits have not gone unnoticed

Published in LEADERSHIP (May 25, 2010)

The climate all over the world has suddenly changed to something else. Every morning one wakes up, the first thing that comes to the mind is how international air travellers are coping with the current weather hazards. In Nigeria, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the condition changes every minute: it can be viciously cold, hot and very dry in turns. It was under this situation that I pondered on the fate of our environmental problems in Nigeria. That gave me an insight into onerous task facing the distinguished lawmaker, who chairs the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Grace Folashade Bent, who has undoubtedly done well in defining the environment and ecological problems in this country for the past years.
She is known for her zeal to eradicate poverty, economic empowerment of women and youth with a rare kind of sharp intelligence. Senator Bent is well known for her political dexterity. The Adamawa State political amazon is known for her zeal and enthusiasm in pursuing agenda that affect humanity and Nigeria as a nation. She is a rare activist, and openly savours the tough thrust and party of political campaigning. No doubt the board of directors of African Leadership forum magazine conferred on her the coveted African Legislator of the year 2010.
The historic event, which took place at Hyatt Regency Hotel, Charles De-Gaulle airport in Paris, France, drew participants from all walks of life. Notable among the dignitaries that grace the occasion were, the Senate President of Liberia, Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Theodore Orji, Her Excellency, Mrs. Yemisi Suswam, wife of the Governor of Benue State and Nigeria's Ambassador to France and Sweden, among other dignitaries.
The chairman of the Advisory Board of the African Leadership group and also Chairman of the African Business Roundtable, elder statesman, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, noted that Senator Bent had distinguished herself as a detribalised Senator to the people of Nigeria, and had over the years, commanded respect and adulation from many who have known her through her good works.
Also making a point at the grand stage of the event, the renowned British-born Sudanese Telecom magnate and wealthiest African, Dr. Mo' Ibrahim, saw Senator Bent as a symbol of the new breed of the emerging African leaders with a human heart. The philanthropist, Dr. Ibrahim heads the Mo' Ibrahim foundation that awards $500,000 and subsequently $200,000 annually for the remaining days of the duly elected African leader that has served his people creditably well without any recourse to a term extension.
Senator Bent was described as strong, very outspoken leader on issues that border on women activism, environmental sustainability and exemplary leadership. The ever smiling legislator is always down to earth, unassuming, a good leader of people. She belives that the best leadership is all about putting the people first, citing people like Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Aminu Kano, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, etc. According to her, they were very rich but they put the people first.
Senator Bent also serves the upper legislative chamber in various committees as an active member. Few among the committees she serves on are those on foreign affairs, aviation, ethics, privileges and public petitions, etc. This clearly indicates her passion and obsession in serving her great country. She is of the opinion that the depth of one’s life will always be the depth of one’s leadership. The gorgeous looking lawmaker, who also bagged the 'Sardauna Senator of the Year 2009', has in her list numerous honours including, PWORA Role Model award (2008) by the Association of Professional Women on Rural Development (PWORA). She was also honoured as the most distinguished Senator in Northern Nigeria (2008) by the management of the Africa Independent Television (AIT), among other honorary awards.
The distinguished senator, above all is always connected to her beliefs. Whenever a question like this arises, Senator Grace, who is adorably nicknamed 'Goggo,' a Fulani term depicting a very cherished mother and auntie in line with her positive political exploits in the state, would simply smile and say your environment determines your growth. According to her, fish grow according to their environment. Fish that could grow very big in the ocean can remain very small when caged in a small environment. She is of the opinion that one must work hard and persevere in order to remain relevant and serve one’s community within his capabilities.
This sociable and friendly lawmaker is also God-fearing. In all her endeavours, she laboured well in fulfilling her destiny. The Erelu Fimigboye Egba of Egba land has it that God has not preordained anything for one except that He has given one all needs to make one’s life happy. She advices her people not to relent in mercies of God. It is for people to take this advantage and plan their destiny.
Senator Grace is also a house wife. She is married to her hearthrob, Major Bent (retired). She has written quite a number of books and novels. To mention a few, she wrote 'Interethnic Marriages in Nigeria,' 'The Novelist as a Conscience of His Nation' and 'Major Threats to Nigerian Security.'
For Senator Grace Bent, the sky is just the starting point.

Glitz & Glamour - Faces at the event 2

2010-04-29T15:50:00.000-07:00

Glitz and Glamour @ SIM Awards

2010-04-29T14:47:00.000-07:00

And the winners are ...

2010-04-29T14:45:00.000-07:00

•Best male playback singer
Sadi Sidi Sharifai (Tumbin Giwa)

•Best female playback singer
Murja Baba (Aikatau)

•Best make up artist
Suji Jos (Dangin Miji)

•Best costumier
Mansura Collectibles (Sai Na Dawo)

•Best film editor
Aminu Mu’azu Barci (Tumbin Giwa)

•Best screen play
Nasir S. Gwangwazo (Dare Da Yawa)

•Best up-and- coming actor
Zaharaddeen Sani (Abin Bauta)

•Best Up-and coming actress
Fati K.K (Tumbin Giwa)

•Besta actor in supporting role
Tanimu Akawu (Duniyar Sama)

•Best actress In supporting role
Amina Garba (Mela)

•Best film
Tumbin Giwa

•Best director
Ishaq Sidi Ishaq (Tumbin Giwa)

•Best actress
Hauwa Maina (Halin Mutum)

•Best actor
Ibrahim Maishinku (Jamila da Jamilu)

SIM HERO OF THE YEAR
Ali Nuhu

Savannah Movie Awards Was Self-Sponsored–Dahiru

2010-04-29T14:42:00.000-07:00

•Maishunku Emerged Best Actor As Ali Nuhu Lifts ‘Palme d’Or’
•SIM Is To Kannywood What AMAA Is To Nollywood –NFC Boss

Glitz And Glamour At SIM Awards
The maiden edition of the Savannah International Movie Awards (SIM awards) held last weekend at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotels & Towers, Abuja. The event, which attracted major players from the Hausa film industry and dignitaries from all works of life, was termed as the first of its kind in the history of Kannywood.
A popular actor and one of the nominees for best actor in supporting role category, Rabi'u Rikadawa, described the event as a pace-setter. On the red-carpet, Rikadawa, who is widely known as Dila, said it was quite impressive, adding that the red-carpet is of international standard.
In his welcome address, the President, SIM awards, Mohammed Dahiru, congratulated his team members for making the event successful. He thanked the special guests and dignitaries for honouring their invitation. He also congratulated the nominees for their immense contributions to the industry and affirmed that the nomination alone is a victory and for the winners, Dahiru assured them of special packages after the event.
While answering questions from newsmen, the SIM awards CEO said the event is soley sponsored by his company. He however, recognised with the support given to them by the Zain Nigeria, who presented token gifts and sovenuers to all nominees and winners at the event. Adding that his team is working out modalities of seeking for sponsorships from corporate bodies and other government parastatals.
In his remarks, the chairman of the occassion, Mallam Abdulkareem Mohammed, congratulated the organisers of the event on their focus and urged the practitioners of the Hausa film industry to make use of the opportunities preserved together by the organisers of SIM Awards to foster the industry ahead.
Equally speaking, the managing director, Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Mr. Afolabi Adesanya, who served as the special guest of honour, expressed his happiness for the giant strides of the organisers of SIM awards. He said "In every entertainment region of the world, there is a body set up to reward hardworking actors and actresses. The SIM awards is to Kannywood what the African Movie Awards Academy (AMAA) is to Nollywood. On this platform, Kannywood can grow and become what it is meant to be."
The Award ceremony was conducted under a peaceful atmosphere. The popular and multiple award winning actor, Ali Nuhu was honoured with the prestigious award, 'SIM Hero Of The Year'. The award goes to a performing artist in the industry, who cuts across borders and made remarkable achievements. The award is synanymous with Cannes' Palme d'Or. Also honoured, were the veteran and famous actor, Daudu Galadanci and the late Hauwa Ali-Dodo (Biba Problem) who was accorded with a post-humous award for her immense contributions to the Hausa film industry.

LEADERSHIP Staff Bags SIMA Award

2010-03-09T12:22:00.001-08:00

LEADERSHIP Newspapers Group Ltd. was at the weekend honoured as one of the pillars behind the propagation of the northern film industry.
This was announced by the Chairman/CEO of Stars In Movie Awards (SIMA), Miss Lavonne Cele-Tawo.
She commended the incisive reports and support the paper gives to the movie industry in the North and its contributions to the Hausa film genre.
Cele-Tawo, who is also the publisher of BEST MOMENTS magazine, said that at a time when the Northern movie industry, Kannywood, lacked patriots, who would foster its mandate, LEADERSHIP newspapers displayed remarkable forsight by appreciating the efforts of the stakeholders in the infantile film industry which is now gradually coming of age.
She said Al-Amin Ciroma, the recipient of the award, was chosen for his good work, determination and passion for the entertainment industry.
Responding, Ciroma, thanked the organisers for honouring him and dedicated the award to his colleagues in the entertainment beats and charged them to keep up their good works.
Also honoured were the wife of the former Vice President, Mrs. Titi Atiku Abubakar, Dr. Karima Ahmed Sani, wife of the former Zamfara State governor, and Malam Dahiru Mohammed, Chairman, Gamzaki Channel and 3SP International Limited.
Others are popular actors Ibrahim Maishunku, Baballe Hayatu, Zainab Idris and Sa'adiyya Mohammed (Gyale), who were honoured as friends of Nollywood for their contribution to the Hausa film industry, alongside prominent Nollywood actors.

Hajj: 64,000 Pilgrims Evacuated

2010-03-09T12:20:00.000-08:00

(Published Dec 21st, 2009 in LEADERSHIP)

Barely six days to the deadline of the airlift in Saudi Arabia, less than 70,000 pilgrims were airlifted back home. It will be recalled that last week, some Zamfara State and the FCT pilgrims went on a peaceful demonstration on the manner they were evacuated at the King AbdulAziz International Airport, Jeddah; a situation that necessitated the Nigerian Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), the head of the pilgrims affairs in the states and the air carriers to hold a closed door meeting in order to avert the situation and map out possible ways of speedy exercise.
In a statement, NAHCON spokesman, Uba Mana said the commission has already mapped out strategies to finally evacuate all pilgrims before the deadline of 26 December. According to him, if not for the fuel shortage and the sudden breakdown of one of the Kabo aircrafts, the exercise would have been on the final round by now. He assured that all things are now in proper place to beat the deadline.
Similarly, the death toll of Nigerian pilgrims in he Kingdom of Saudi Arabia so far hit 45 and the birth toll risen to 14. Responding on the mortality update, the head of the medical team of Hajj 2009, Dr. Ibrahim A. Kana, said most of the deaths are as a result of hypertension. He called on pilgrims to always frequent the available clinics for proper consultation and medication, saying that pilgrims who are hypertensive should take things easy and be more prayerful, "I want to call on those who are hypertensive to please take things easy, sometimes they allow personal pressures disturb them. But in the holy land, they should engage in prayers in Haram and for the mean time take things easy." Said Kana.
Commenting on the birth rates, the head of the medical team said so far the toll reached 14 with Kano state as the highest followed by Zamfara and other states. On how they maneuvered their ways to pilgrimage, Dr. Kana said some of them were not at the initial screening centres, probably because of their high connection, "Some of them you won't see them at the screening centres, you just see them at the tarmac boarding, so what can you do? We know pregnancy is not a contradiction to Hajj, but then considering the nature of the exercise, it is a tough business with a lot of stress, at times, one can trek from Mina to Arafat or Muzdalifa to Mina and vice versa. How can a pregnant woman survive the huddles. You know stress can easily induce pregnancy, which is God's giving." He said.

Leadership gathered that a Zamfara pilgrim was said to have been blocked with her newly born baby while boarding an airline. Reports shows that the woman gave birth at the pilgrim hotel room in Mecca, which the Saudi authorities demand the proper birth papers. "It is a sad story, the woman delivered at the pilgrims hotel room, which is against the Saudi policy, they have demanded for the proper birth certificate." Said Dr. Kana. As at the time of filing this report, the woman and her husband have returned back to Mecca from Jeddah to acquire the papers that will allow them pass the immigration protocols at the Jeddah Airport.

30 Nigerian Pilgrims Die In Saudi Arabia

2010-03-09T12:18:00.000-08:00

(Published DEC 7)

Thirty Nigerian pilgrims have so far lost their lives in Saudi Arabia during the 2009 Hajj, spokesman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Uba Mana, has said.
Mana, who is the head of media and publicity of the commission, told our reporter in an interview in Mecca on Monday that Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Kano, Zamfara, Plateau, Nasawa, Bauchi, Lagos, Yobe, and Borno each lost pilgrims during the Hajj.
Giving a breakdown, Mana said that Kebbi State lost five pilgrims, Niger and Sokoto lost four each, Kano and Plateau states lost three pilgrims each, Nasarawa, Bauchi and Zamfara states lost two each, while Lagos, Yobe and Borno states lost one pilgrim each.
He explained that the three pilgrims that died from Kano State came through international route and not through the state’s pilgrims welfare board.
Mana said that of the 30 that lost their lives, three were knocked down by moving vehicles, two as a result of kidney failure, while the rest died of hypertension and heart related ailments.
On the transportation of pilgrims back home from Saudi Arabia, the NAHCON spokesman said that 15,000 pilgrims have so far returned home and reiterated that all Nigerian pilgrims would be back at home by December 26.

Amirul Hajj Escapes Lynch In Mecca

2010-03-09T12:17:00.000-08:00

(Published DEC 2, 2009)

Leader of Nigeria’s Muslim pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia (Amirul Hajj), Senator Kanti Bello, yesterday escaped being lynched by angry pilgrims while inspecting luggage weighing centres in Mecca.
Senator Bello had arrived one of the centres, where the luggage of Adamawa, Kano and Katsina states were weighed, and cautioned one of the operatives of Kabo Air to adhere to stipulated 40kg. He also condemned speculations that some of the air carriers were telling pilgrims that even if their luggage exceeded the limit, they would be conveyed, saying that any carrier that agreed to convey excess luggage was doing so at its own risk.
According to Bello, if any pilgrim did not arrive home with his load, the affected air carrier would be held responsible. But before completing his speech, some angry pilgrims jumped onto the stage and began to hurl abusive words and throw stones at him.
The Amirul Hajj and his entourage managed to leave the place but his car’s windscreens were smashed.
Meanwhile, LEADERSHIP reporter awaited the outcome of a closed-door meeting of the Amirul Hajj and his committee. At the time of filing in this report, none of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) officials had offered any explanation.
A source, however, confided in leadership that some of the air carriers, most especially Kabo Air, may be sanctioned.
Meanwhile, the dispute between the Amirul Hajj and most of the state pilgrims welfare boards may cause a serious delay in the airlift of the pilgrims back home, which was earlier scheduled to start yesterday.
Investigations in Jeddah and Kano revealed that already many of the pilgrims disputed the directive given by the Amirul Hajj on luggage size.
This strict directive, according to the pilgrims, will not augur well for them, as it was the tradition that the airlines handling the Hajj exercise normally carried all the luggage belonging to pilgrims, while any excess would be paid for.
A reliable source explained that despite the fact that yesterday was scheduled for the start of assembling of the pilgrims, most of them did not show up at the Jeddah airport, raising concerns that the airlift could be delayed.
The source alleged that apart from the state pilgrims welfare boards, most of the airlines operating the Hajj exercise are bitterly opposed to the new directive on lugagge size because such plan will seriously congest the Jeddah airport and paralyse the airlift.
Meanwhile, Meridian Airlines had planned to start the airlift of the pilgrims by 11 a.m. yesterday and was expected to bring home 516 Jigawa State pilgrims.
The Public Relations Manager of the airline, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Karaye, told LEADERSHIP in a telephone interview that after finishing with Jigawa State, the airline would airlift pilgrims from other states allocated to it - Kano, Kaduna and Plateau.
Another airline operating in this year's Hajj exercise, Max Air Limited, had already positioned its aircraft in Jeddah on Sunday night as required by the NAHCON to commence the airlift of pilgrims back to Nigeria.

Hajj: 11 Nigerians Die In Saudi Arabia

2010-03-09T12:16:00.000-08:00

(Published NOV - 19th)

The Head of the Federal Government medical team to the 2009 Hajj, Dr Ibrahim Kana, has confirmed that 11 Nigerian pilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia.
Kana told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Mecca yesterday that two of the deceased were knocked down by vehicles in Mecca and Medina, while two died of diarrhea and vomiting, one of epilepsy, another of pneumonia and the rest of natural causes.
He said Nasarawa, Sokoto, Kebbi and Bauchi states lost two pilgrims each, while Zamfara, Plateau and Niger states lost one each.
He said the record was an improvement compared to 2008 when 45 Nigerians died before Arafat.
Kana called on the pilgrims to improve on their personal hygiene, rest properly and take plenty of water and fruits to avoid exhaustion from the heat.
He said the federal medical team was working with the state medical teams to ensure the good health of pilgrims.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP at the Nigerian Medical Mission House in Mecca, Kana said Nigeria has recorded tremendous success from the airlift to logistics. "We have about five clinics this year - four in Mecca and one in Madina that gave us the privilege to attend to large number of our patients.
"We tried hard to prevent diseases, you know, once there is prevention, you are able to reduce the number of patients and mortality. We got this breakthrough by creating much awareness. Pamphlets were produced in virtually all major Nigerian languages to address health-related matters and personal hygiene.”
He added: "Generally speaking, health is good this year, compared to last year when we had about 42 mortality rates.
“Most of those who died last year were old persons, but this year due to the strict nature of visa issuance by the Saudi government and our vigorous screenings of the aged and healthy people, we have less problems. Almost all those who are on this year's contingent are healthy people. If this continues, Nigeria will record a lot of successes on Hajj affairs."
On swine flu, the doctor said, "Right from Nigeria, we screened our pilgrims, took their temperature and so on, but about eight of the Nigerian pilgrims were quarantined by the Saudi authorities here in Jeddah, alleging that they have H1N1 (swine flu) and were taken to the hospital for examination.
"At the hospital, Polymirase chain test, which is an intelligence test, was conducted on them. I am proud to say that the result showed that none of them and found positive of H1N1. We have over 20,000 tamiflu to cure the swine flu for our pilgrims."
Kana also stated that this year the Saudi authorities arranged that there would be no clinics and ambulances in Mina. "The Saudi authorities will provide everything, clinics, hospitals and ambulances. The ambulances will serve as post-clinics just to avoid commotion.
"If all states of Nigeria will go with their ambulances and every nation will take its ambulances there, how many will be on board? But they are capable of providing everything in case of any emergency."
The federal medical team has 60 doctors, 120 nurses, 20 pharmacists and 16 environmental health officers, who offer free medical services to pilgrims in their clinics in Mecca, Medina and Jeddah.
Ninety-five thousand Nigerians are performing the pilgrimage.

The Pilgrims That Died In Saudi Arabia

1. Usman Hassan Dandaura - Kebbi; died 28-10-09 in Madina of Septicaemia.
2. Gidigo Maikurata - Nasarawa; died 1/11/09 in Madina of cardiopulmonary failure.
3. Ibrahim Abdulkarim Imam - Sokoto; died 2/11/09 in Madina of cardiopulmonary failure.
4. Hauwa Mohammed Abdullahi - Nasarawa; died 4/11/09 in Madina of Hepatic Encephalopathy.
5. Balarabe Adamu - Sokoto; died 4/11/09 in Madina of gastroenteritis.
6. Dadda'u Almalik - Zamfara; died 5/11/09 in Madina, having been knocked down by a vehicle on the road.
7. Ibrahim Umar - Bauchi; died 10/11/09 in Madina of Aspiration pneumonia secondary to epileptic;
8. Babawo M. Sarki - Plateua; died 10/11/09 in Makka, knocked down by a car.
9. Maryam Alhassan Jumu - Kebbi; died 13/11/09 in Madina of cardiac arrest.
10. Musa Lawan - Bauchi; died on 14/11/09 in Makkah of anaemic cardiac failure.
11. Hauwa Ndanusa - Niger; died 15/11/09 in Makkah of gastroenteritis.

Hajj: Nigeria Airlifts 76,443 Ahead Of Deadline

2010-03-09T12:14:00.000-08:00

(ublished NOV - 17 2009)

By Al-Amin Ciroma, Mecca and Mansur Sani Malam, Kano
A total of 76,443 pilgrims have so far been airlifted to Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s Muslim pilgrimage.
LEADERSHIP learnt exclusively from the information office of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in Jeddah yesterday that the figure is a tremendous lift from the past.
The Head of Human Resources at the NAHCON office in Jeddah, Dr. Aliyu Abubakar Tanko, said, “All the airlines are living up to expectation this year. We will be far away from deadline because information released to us by the body in charge of the pilgrim affairs of Saudi Arabia to the African Non-Arabs pilgrims indicates that the Madina road will be closed on November 13, 2009 while closing of Jeddah airport will be on November 21, 2009. Therefore, going by this development, Nigeria has recorded incredible exercise.”
On the mortality rate, Tanko said it is very difficult to assess the rate of mortality because the Hajj business is yet to kick off properly.
“The only mortality we witnessed so far was that in Madinah, where six people died. But honestly, we cannot finally say anything on it for now. However, we hope when the Hajj progresses, our pilgrims will survive the hurdles and go back to their families and loved ones in peace.”
A survey conducted by our reporter indicates that as NAHCON is trying to overcome all previous problems faced by the Nigerian contingent in the holy land, some pilgrims are still stranded at their local stations in Mecca.
Some pilgrims who expressed dismay complained that their accommodation is in bad environment and lacks social amenities.
“Can you imagine, we were lodged about nine of us in a single room without any ventilation. Among us, there are two aged men, who cannot stand the cold of the air conditioner in the room. There is no window, so even if we switch off the air conditioner, there likely be air contamination in the room,” cried a pilgrim from Kano State.
Some pilgrims also complained about how some unscrupolous officials, capitalising on the anxious moment of Hajj, to perpetrate their self-serving agenda in order to make fast bucks at the expense of the country and the unsuspecting pilgrims.
“Of course, we can do better than most of the countries partaking in the exercise and one of the ways to achieve that is to borrow a leaf from the experience of the Indonesians. The Nigerian Hajj Commission has a lot to overcome.”
Meanwhile, Max Air Limited is expected to complete the airlift of the 30,400 pilgrims allocated to it by the Federal Government for this year's Hajj exercise today
The spokesman of the airline, Malam Ibrahim Dahiru, told newsmen in Kano that the airline has also commenced rescue mission in the airlift of pilgrims in some African countries.
He revealed that Max Air will from today airlift the last batch of 500 pilgrims from Borno and Yobe, adding this is bringing the total number of pilgrims flown to Jeddah by Max Air to 30,400.
Dahiru said the airline is using its spare aircraft in airlifting pilgrims from Cameroon, Banjul in The Gambia, Dakar in Senegaland Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso.
He explained that the airline is expected to complete the rescue mission in 10 flights by tomorrow.
He said Max Air has airlifted pilgrims successfully from FCT, Nasarawa, Katsina, Sokoto, Gombe and Yobe.
Dahiru expressed satisfaction with the co-operation by the state Pilgrims Welfare Boards and the pilgrims, and wished them successful pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

Hajj: Nigeria Beats Deadline In 20 Years

2010-03-09T12:09:00.000-08:00

(Published on 13th November, 2009 in LEADERSHIP)

For the first time in decades, Nigeria will be beating the deadline in the airlift of Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, without rancorous beginning and end.
Already, over 80,000 pilgrims, representing about 92 percent out of a total of 85,000 participants, have been airlifted from various take- off points across the country.
As at last night, a total of 83,718 pilgrims were successfully airlifted to the holy land.
The official closing date for airlifts is eight days away on November 21.
This also means that the country is left with less than 2,000 pilgrims, and that can be concluded between today and tomorrow.
With this development, by Sunday all the intending pilgrims would have been airlifted to the holy land.
LEADERSHIP investigation indicated that this positive result is due to diligent and early preparations embarked upon by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
It is equally in line with the resolve by the leadership of the commission headed by Muhammad Musa Bello to professionalise Hajj operations in the country.
This is a significant improvement on the part of Nigeria's Hajj operations and a boost in the Nigeria-Saudi diplomatic relations.
Until now, nearly every year Saudi authorities had to be begged by their Nigerian counterparts to extend their deadline for Nigeria's pilgrims due to the latter's poor logistics and usual planlessness, especially the lack of respect to timed programmes.
The airlift, which started on October 25, is being coordinated from Lagos, Kano, Gombe, Sokoto and Maiduguri airports.
Already, ahead of the arrival of the national Hajj team representing Nigerian higher authorities to be led by the National Amirul Hajj, Senator Kanti Bello, an advanced team representing the main body, led by Alhaji Liad Tella, are in Saudi Arabia to fine-tune necessary arrangements.
Senator Bello had at various fora during interactive sessions with licensed airliners urged for efficient service delivery.
The airlines handling the Hajj operations are Kabo, Meridian, Medview and Max Air.
The airlift started about three weeks ago, with Lagos sending off the first batch of 295 pilgrims. Oyo sent 540, Zamfara, which uses Sokoto Airport, airlifted 540 initially.
Max Air was the first carrier to finish the airlift of the 30,400 pilgrims allocated to it. The airline attained this feat on Monday.
Kabo Air Limited completed the airlift of 31,324 pilgrims yesterday, which was the total number allocated to the airline this year. This shows that the airline was able to conclude the exercise in less than three weeks since the first batch left Sokoto on October 24.
The pilgrims were from Bauchi, Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Taraba and Zamfara states.
The manager, Corporate Affairs, of the airline, Alhaji Aminu Hamza, explained that the last set of pilgrims left Malam Aminu Kano International Airport on Tuesday, a week to the November 17 deadline given by the NAHCON to all carriers to complete the airlift.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive of Kabo Air Limited, Captain Sa'idu Mohammed, attributed the success to experience and dedication on the part of the management and staff of the company spanning about 30 years.
He called for the continued cooperation of all stakeholders and assured of the airline's readiness to make the return leg a successful one.
Meanwhile, some Nigerian pilgrims are as usual visiting Saudi Arabia through privately arranged international routes, such as Lagos-London-Jeddah, Kano-Cairo-Jeddah or Kano-Holland-London-Jeddah.
These arrangements are made through licensed international travel and tour agencies.
Our correspondent in Saudi Arabia spoke to Dr. Abubakar I. Kana, the head of the medical team, who said: “The Saudi government has not rejected Nigeria's immunisation exercise and yellow cards,” which are part of requirements to enter the Kingdom.
Our correspondent disclosed that the Saudi government has been administering polio vaccines and antibiotics to all Nigerian pilgrims as an administrative measure.
The remaining pilgrims from Kebbi and Zamfara states will be airlifted tomorrow by Kabo Airline at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport.
This was made known to our correspondent by the coordinator of Kabo airline, Mr Steven Ishaya, in Sokoto.
The remaining pilgrims, comprising officials of the two states, who are about 100 in number, would be airlifted in a small aircraft carrying 189 passengers.
Over 18,000 Sokoto pilgrims, were airlifted from Sultan Abubakar III airport.
LEADERSHIP also gathered that cases of lost pilgrims, which used to be rampant in the past, are minimal.
The success in this area has been attributed to awareness campaigns instituted by the NAHCON, as well as efforts of various pilgrims welfare boards in the states.

Hajj 2009: NAHCON And Its State Of Preparedness

2009-10-15T23:29:00.000-07:00

October 16, 2009
As the countdown to Hajj 2009 begins, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) commenced its last minute preparedness for this year's Hajj exercise. Throughout the calendar, NAHCON set a formidable committee to enlighten the pilgrims as well as the authorities concern and the stakeholders on the need of eradicating the problems faced by Nigerian pilgrims at the Holy land in order to record a successful and hitch-free Hajj (Hajj-al-Mabrur).
An accepted Hajj is a Hajj performed--overall--in a manner pleasing to Allah (SWT), and its signs are that a person returns with resolve and determination to fulfill their duty to Allah in a pleasing manner. If this is the case, then such a person's Du'as are likely to be answered--not just 40 days after their return, but beyond as well.
It is a known phenomenon that over the years, the attitudes of our Nigerian Pilgrim have constituted major menace to Saudi Authorities during each Hajj Operation. The Nigerian Pilgrims are known to embark on demonstrations at Saudi Airport and the places of accommodation both in Makkah and Madinah, out of impatience to come back home after completing their Hajj. Others are in the habit of overstaying after Hajj or Umrah while some falsify their traveling documents.
The general disorderliness of our pilgrim right from the shores of Nigeria and while in Saudi Arabia is nothing to write home about. For instance, the disorderliness in boarding plane, bus, the rowdy nature of our weighing centres, our eating and hygiene habits in our accommodation places, the rampant cases of pilgrim loss, deliveries of babies, in some cases miscarriages, oversize and multiple luggages at boarding points and carrying about luggages at Jamarat are all problems of serious concern noted by Hajj stakeholders and have become the bane of successful and hitch-free Hajj. These anomalies have so long been associated with Nigerian pilgrims to the extend that today any black man who perpetrates them is automatically regarded as a Nigerian.
The Hajj Stakeholders cannot alone surmount these enumerated problems without the support and cooperation of our intending pilgrims, and the cooperation of intending pilgrims can only be obtained if the pilgrims are adequately enlightened on the basic tenets of attaining an acceptable Hajj.
The salient key to attaining an acceptable Hajj is the fear of Allah and imbibing the spirit of patience and tolerance throughout the period of Hajj performance.
Presenting the update of 2009 Hajj arrangements recently at the floor of the National Assembly, the NAHCON boss, Alhaji Musa Bello highlights that the 85,000 pilgrims' slot allocated to Nigeria have been distributed to the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Armed forces. He said, the payment of the seats have been commendable with N29,540,054,815.16 received out of N30,638,407,760.29, which was expected. According to him, this represents 96% success of the payment received.
On the E-passport and issuance of the Hajj visas, the commission reaffirmed the circular received earlier this year (January 2009) by the Saudi authorities asserting that from the 2009 Hajj season, pilgrims' passport will no longer be accepted from anyone globally, only international passports will be used. Following that, the commission made adequate arrangements with the Nigerian Immigration Service and the state pilgrims' welfare boards and agencies across the nation to take care of this development. "Consequently, by now, every intending pilgrim for this year has already obtained his e-passport. We have even held meeting with the concerned Saudi Authorities on how the e-passport should be handled to avoid damage," said NAHCON boss.
The issuance of visa for 2009 Hajj, according to the commission, commenced on 7th September, 2009 at the Saudi consulate in Kano where 60,000 pilgrims from the states of the North-West, North-East and parts of North-Central geo-political zones are being processed. The balance of 25,000 pilgrims are being handled by the Saudi embassy in Abuja. The statement further said visa issuance in Abuja commenced a week after Ramadan where approximately, 50,000 visas have so far been processed.
On pilgrims' accommodation, NAHCON is optimistic that Nigerian pilgrims' accommodation has been secured by the states in Mecca, while the commission has secured accommodation in Madina. Alhaji Bello said, "The cost of accommodation in Makkah this year has been benchmarked at SR2,500 per pilgrim, while that of Madina has been benchmarked at SR350 per pilgrim for the eiath days pilgrims generally desire to saty in Madina."
Notably, Hajj is one of the fundamental Jihads (cause of Allah), therefore, when we prepare for hajj we should also prepare for death. No one is guaranteed return from Hajj. We are supposed to put our affairs in order, make our wills, say our goodbyes. We try to mend fences with those estranged from us-relatives, friends, enemies. Understandably, we often put these uncomfortable conversations off until the last possible minute.
Ramadan is a good time to begin the process of forgiving, asking forgiveness and reconciling with others just as we fast and pray and hope for forgiveness from Allah and reconciliation in our relationship to Allah, while Hajj is another window to exercise Allah's piety. May Allah Ta'ala grant us Hajj-al-Mabrur.

Al-Khul’: The Woman’s Choice

2009-10-15T23:27:00.000-07:00

Published on Friday, October 09, 2009)

The situation in which the wife initiates divorce proceedings is known as Khul’a or Khul’i. It is a compensation given to a husband by his wife who desires divorce. Once the husband agrees to divorce her in exchange for some money or the remission of her dower, the divorce is known as Talaq. It is valid as the Talaq given by the man of his own initiative. Khul’i depends upon the agreement reached between the two parties. If the husband agrees to give Talaq provided that his wife either abandon her right to the dower (if the dower has not yet been paid) or return back the amount of the dower to the husband (if the dower had been paid). In the time of the Prophet (SAW), the wife of one of his Sahaba (companions), Thabit bin Qais, asked for Talaq from her husband because she did not like him. The Prophet (SAW) asked her to return back to him the garden he gave to her at the time of marriage as dower. She accepted this demand and got the Talaq.
In the holy Qur’an, Allah (SWT) said, “If you fear that they (the spouses) may not uphold the boundaries of Allah, then there is no harm upon the two of them (spouses) in the ransom offered by her (wife).” (Q1:229)
However, why should a woman seek divorce? A thorough research conducted recently by Women’s Right Advancement And Protection Alternative (WRAPA) under the auspices of the Islamic Family Law (IFL) project in seven north-western states in Nigeria revealed that women are undergoing a lot of torments in the society, thus, If a woman is unable to endure with her husband and is unable to fulfill her rights as a wife, who will be answerable? Will her parents or the society intercede for her on the Day of Judgment?
Though, Islam condemns male chauvinism, we see chauvinism obvious among many Muslim societies. Even in the case of divorce, a male easily gives Talaq to his wife if he is unable to endure with her. But it isn’t the same with the wife. In fact, she is asked to be patient all the time, instead of using her own right to end a relationship, without having a look to understand how they can neglect the rights given to them by Allah (SWT).
Therefore, at a validation meeting attended by 62 Islamic scholars, jurists and academicians at Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, WRAPA, under its IFL projects, in its contributions towards creating awareness and empowering women, resolved in a communique that the Khul’i be limited to the only Sadaq (dowry) paid by the husband. Where a husband has paid the Sadaq far above the normal, the Qadi (judge) should use his discreation to decided on what is reasonabe and affordable for the wife to pay.
Although, before reaching this conclusion, a lot of things were put into consideration. First, some observers view that by resolving to a low scale of the Khul’i, payment, it gives women an easy way to ask for divorce and probably, it may become detriment to the society once women were at liberty to seek divorce without austere measures, but the scholars argued that no woman wants her marriage crashed, but there are some instances whereby women are being denied certain marital rights and because of the culture of the husbands cajole then into being patients, they remain in their houses without given due consideration. “If you agree with me, a lot of women are silently dying due to one problems or the other. They are being denied their certain rights, for example, conjugal rights, some husbands fervidly deny their wives their matrimonial rights simply because they have alternatives, they keep mistresses outside. Therefore, what will be the faith of their innocent wives, who have no any alternative?” One of the WRAPA officials sighted.
Unfortunately, in some societies it is culturally unacceptable that a woman should be aware of her rights, and that she might actually wish to exercise those rights! Many brand the woman with ugly names, such as adulteress, psychic, possessed by Jinn, masculine, arrogant, etc., just for intending to seek her conjugal rights ordained by Allah (SWT) if she noticed the husband is not forthcoming.
When a Muslim woman seeks a Khul’i, she often must endure constant mental and physical torment from her neighbors, friends, even family who do not understand that this is her God’s given right, and no shame should follow upon it.
These are some of the reasons why most women chose to remain silent, enduring painful and lifeless marital situations. First and formost, the cultural bindings. In our northern societies, the culture of Alkunya affects the marital institution, so much so that certain issues are ignored or abolished due to this fact. Eventually, they later turn out to be detrimental to our family affairs.
I have been wanting to come up with issues relating to family affairs in our modern societies because I have come to undertand that a lot of marriages crashes not because the couples subscribed for the hurtle, but because of some impediments.
In our subsequent discussions, I will share with you instances where women call to seek advice or counselling for their marimonial wahala. Meanwhile, is Khul’i a recipe or techniques for eradicating women snags in their matrimonial lives?

From My In-Box

2009-10-15T22:46:00.000-07:00

Readers' Reactions and Comments on Zee-Zee

(published October 11)

Re: Ummi Zee-Zee: My Secret Affair With Timaya
I really find it difficult to describe how senile this young upcoming artress in Hausa film has gone by her recent interview in your column of Leadership Weekend of October 3, 2009.
I was one of her admirers in the Kannywood world before the Maryam Hiyana debacle, which threw the industry into disarray and made it possible for Zee Zee to now go into music.
Reading her interview made me ponder on a lot of things, especially given the fact that she comes from a Muslim family. What aroused my curiosity to even waste my precious time to write this piece is the way she proudly announced to the world that Timaya and Mighty Duncan are her boyfriends–Waiyazubillah. How could a Muslim girl take pride in saying that her boyfriends are people who are not of the same religion like her? How sure is she that any one of them would become a Muslim to marry her?
What Zee Zee wanted to tell the people is that her parents if they are alive have no control over her. This is because if her parents have control over her, she wouldn’t dare say it out that Timaya and Mighty Duncan were her boyfriends. She needs to be reminded that whatever she gets in this world, she must surely leave behind.
She also needs to be reminded that as a Muslim, it is not even proper for her to become a Musician. Not to mention her utterances that she bought ten expensive cars with her money which I believe is a lie. If indeed she’s a Musician, where is the album she released that fetched her that staggering amount?

Usman Santuraki,
No. 74, Tafida Street, Jimeta - Yola, Adamawa State
email: usbaturaki@yahoo.com

Who hired you to blackmail Timaya?
Please tell us how much Zee-Zee gave you to blackmail Timaya? If it is true, why is she involving the two other aritstes? Anyway, tell her that this is not something to be proud of as a good Muslim.

Maryam Sanusi,
48, Maiduguri Road, Sokoto,
08131900000

I am disappointed
Al-Amin, you have disappointed me by featuring this rif-raf called Zee-Zee. She is a disgrace to the Muslim faithful. She should go back and seek her parent's forgiveness.

Asabe Gamawa, Kano, 08037037782

Zee-Zee, I Am Disppointed
I am one of those who admire certain folks in the industry and Zee-Zee happened to be one of them, but with the current situation, I can say that I am really dispointed in her. How dare she be proud of telling the entire world that she is in love with Timaya? I think Ummi does not have respect for her parents. Timaya is just using her as a rhesus monkey.

Malam Haruna, 8/10 Sokot State
0802 360 7222

What Is Wrong In Being Friends With Timaya?
Why are our Muslim brothers so hypocritical? Whatever is wrong with a Muslim making friends with people that are non-Muslims, is what I still find amazing. Most of us Muslims have satellite dishes and do tune to musicals and many are fans of Akon, the american pop star. What Zee-Zee is doing is in many folds, better than being a Nigerian politician for instance.

Ibrahim Maiduguri
0802 691 1397

Re: Asabe Gamawa’s Comment
Asabe, you have spoken my mind in your comment about Zee-Zee in LEADERSHIP Newspaper. I think we should engage her in our prayers. She definitely needs deliverance.
Hamza Jos

Zee-Zee? Who Cares!
I don’t know why people pay attention to this Ummi Zee-Zee and Timaya saga. Ummi should be allowed to date any man of her choice. The world is wide enough for everyone, but Ummi needs to know that she is a woman and the life span of a woman is not long enough for her to roam about.

Umar Faruk,
Kaduna
0803 072 7081

Zee-Zee Is A Disgrace To Us
I want to commend your efforts, please permit me to tell Zee-Zee that she is nothing but a disgrace to the entire good Muslim women. So what if Timaya is your boyfriend? You should know better that there are certain games that one does not play because they are expensive and risky.
May God guide people like you.
Anisa, Kano
0803 788 2127

Please you guys should forget about this brat called Zee-Zee, who cares if she dates the whole artistes in the industry?
Lawal Mai-Anguwa, Mando, Kaduna
0803 694 6230

Zee-Zee Vs Timaya: Matters Arising

2009-10-14T00:40:00.000-07:00

•How Timaya Dumped Me For Njamah, After Giving Him A Honda Jeep Worth N4m

(Published in LEADERSHIP - October 11, 2009)

“So when you feel like hope is gone, look inside you and be strong. And you'll finally see the truth – that a hero lies in you...” (Mariah Carey - Hero)

Can anyone tell Ummi Zee-zee that she may attain whatever position she may aspire to be in as much as she believes in herself and what she positively does?” This is just one of the numerous responses I received last week about the Ummi Ibrahim (Zee-Zee) article published in this column.
The 'Jinsee' star actress, exposure of her love life with Bayelsa State- born militant singer, Inetimi Odon, popularly known as Timaya, did not go down well with her teeming readers and fans. Although the beautiful and gorgeously looking former Kannywood actress boasted that she has won the heart of the contemporary artiste of the moment, I am pretty sure that by the time my readers get to know that the Kannywood star who fled the industry has been jilted again by her lovebird, Timaya, they may conclude that they are probably watching a TV-Soap love series. However, the issue of the moment is that the slim, pretty, tall star could not hide her dismay over how she allegedly allowed a man who would have been her husband to slip away from her warm arms into that of another woman.
Sources available to Inside Kannywood reveals that the relationship, according to her, suddenly broke up when Timaya decided to go back to the popular Nollywood star, Empress Njamah. How did it happen? First, Zee-Zee alleged that she bought her Bayelsa State-born star a customised Honda Pilot Jeep worth N4 million as a love gift.
"I bought him Honda Jeep Pilot for N4 million, but he dumped me for Empress Njamah. I asked him to return the car, but he has been running away from me," said Zee-Zee.
She is said to have opened a fresh love chapter with Jonah D’Monarch, whom she described as her new love bird.
Scandals in the entertainment industry is not a new thing – ranging from boyfriend-girlfriend saga to matrimonial infidelity, to the illicit pornographic video racks and so on. As for Timaya, whenever one asks him about his life and the scandals, he simply smiles and says, "I think I am paramount; that is why they talk about me. I never actually wanted it this way, but then, I never liked a situation where people just kept saying good things about me, it makes me scared. So, writing or saying wrong things about me once in a while is in order."
A public commentator, who spoke on anonymity on this matter said, “How could Ummi Zee-Zee be blinded by the so-called promises from a man she does not know in the first place? According to him, Zee-Zee should revisit the love affair between Timaya and Empress. The story is not hidden. Doesn’t she know that Empress was in a love affair with Timaya before her?
Of course, archives don't tell lies, Timaya and Njamah have come a long way. Imagine that he could hold his “hard-earned Hip–Hop award plaque in front of the general public and fans and announce that he is dedicating it to his queen, Empress Njamah. Zee-Zee should have at least realised that Njamah had been enjoying the sweetest taboo from Timaya long before her.
Apart from that, there has been allegations that Timaya's queen is also pregnant for him, an allegation Timaya denied, saying, "Imagine that in January, they wrote that I had done a secret marriage introduction with Empress Njamah and that she was four months pregnant. That is a big lie, a mega lie. I'm serious. If she was four months pregnant, then she should be giving birth by now, but she has not."
But then, on many occasions, Timaya affirmed his relationship with Njamah: "I am in a relationship with Empress like I am in a relationship with any other person. We are not enemies; we have dates and go out for drinks. People just say what they want to say because they see both of us at places together – shows, clubs etc."'
Not only that, the Don Kpolongo singer lately had a rough taste of love turned sour when he was arrested by the police recently. The episode happened at a Church premises in Lagos. Sources say Timaya with his friends arrived the Church premises where a wedding event was going on. He was allegedly given a seat by one of the church Ushers, but he insisted he wanted a high table position, and when the usher stood his ground, he calmly sat without betraying any emotion of what he planned to do.
Present at the event was Empress Njamah who became alarmed and quickly stood up from her position and made her way to the front row area where some elders of the Church sat, expressing her fear that Timaya's presence may bring some trouble. And of course, that was what really happened. Thereafter, Timaya got up from his seat and tried to make his way to the high table, shouting and making trouble that he had come to retrieve the key to his car which his girlfriend, Njamah, took from his house. The tension was doused by the involvement of a Naval officer who was present at the event. He did that by inviting his men who rushed to the venue handcuffed Timaya and took him away.
One may ask: What really went wrong with Timaya to engage in such a show of shame? The answer is simple. He thought his girl was getting married to another man, so he decided to storm the Church to disrupt the wedding. But the much talked about wedding was between one of Empress' best friends and her long-standing boyfriend.
By this, one may quickly conclude that no Jupiter will put the Timaya/Njamah relationship asunder. Has it also occurred to Zee-Zee that she was just dancing to the tune of others? She should know by now that even if she buys him an Air Force One, one of the world's most luxurious air craft, she won't buy his heart? Certainly, that’s how others learn from their mistakes.

My Secret Affair With Timaya – Zee-Zee

2009-10-03T03:39:00.000-07:00

(Published in my INSIDE KANNYWOOD column in LEADERSHIP today)

Ummi Ibrahim Usman, a.k.a Zee-Zee, has been enmeshed in much controversy recently. As much as she had tried to exonerate herself of blame in her previous relationship, she is still receiving knocks for quickly getting involved in another with star artiste Timaya. In this interview, she lay bare her mind on the scandal that led her to police detention, among other issues.

For a while now, you have been silent on issues, why?
The reason I decided to back out from issues of discourse is due to the unfortunate incident that came upon Maryam Hiyana. When the sex video clip was exposed, I vowed not to feature in any movie again.

But some music video posters of you and Timaya showed that you are working on your new album. How about that?
The reason I opted for musicals was because I stopped featuring in Hausa films; that is why I decided to work on my musical album, but not the Adamu Nagudus contemporaries. I am doing English musicals alongside stars like Timaya, Jonah the Monarch, Duncan Mighty, among others.

Why this sudden migration?
I have told you, I am no more interested in any Hausa movie or show again. The Hiyana scandal really put me off. It was a bad experience.

Most of these artistes you mentioned are more ‘expensive’ then those of Hausa extraction, how did you manage your budget?
(Laughter) The issue of budget is secondary because they are my business associates. We are into the same business, so we know our ways.

Could you tell us how you met Timaya?
(Laughter) The point is that we are destined to be. We are in the same profession. One thing led to another and that's how it all started.

Is it true that one of your boyfriends introduced you to Timaya?
I don't understand. You mean my boyfriend introduced me to him?

Yes, that your boyfriend hooked you up with him?
How could my boyfriend have introduced me to another man? It’s not true.

But is it true that Timaya is also your boyfriend?
Yes, Timaya is my boyfriend. In fact, I am also going out with two other artistes in the music industry– Jonah The Monarch and Duncan Mighty– but I am more recognised with Timaya.

How are you able to do this?
I want you to understand that I am single and searching. I can date 100 men, but Islam allows me to marry only one. Therefore, I am taking my time to search for Mr. Right.

You just mentioned Islam, how is it going to be?
Whoever wants to seek my hand should convert to Islam.
Do you think your boyfriends might convert to your faith in order to win your heart?
Of course! They could.

Has Timaya come to terms with your faith?
Yes! Not just him, all of them are ready to become Muslims.
Among the artistes you mentioned, who is going to be the hero - the one expected to become a Muslim and marry Zee-Zee.

Out of the three? (long silence)
I am not sure yet, but whoever is destined to be my husband will surely become a Muslim.

There are allegations that you were recently apprehended by the police. What really happened?
I have a boyfriend in Jos, Abdullahi Adamu Usman, who proposed to me, but unfortunately, my parents felt he was not the right man for me. You know the religion permits one to know the background of whoever comes to seek your daughter's hand in marriage. If he is good, then so be it. But for Usman, my dad said no. But I dated him for about a year, or there about. I used to visit him in Jos.

But is it true that you betrayed him? After buying you expensive cars, you jilted him for your new found love?
You mean people think I am a dupe, isn't it? The allegations are false. Abdullahi could be the one who is insinuating these against me. The guy is frustrated and is going about telling people that he gave me money, cars, etc. Since the day he felt that my dad wouldn’t bless our relationship, he started talking, even to the police. First, he said we were business partners and that I betrayed him of his 20 houses and 20 cars, as well as some undisclosed amount of money. He even said, I was planning to flee from the country.

The truth is, we are not partners in business, but the poor guy became furious when he realised that my father refused him; that is why he took that step. He would have asked that I redeem what he offered me in the cause of our relationship, and I would have paid him whatever I knew was between us, rather than tarnish my image. And don't forget, he offered me some gifts unconditionally because of our love, but all of a sudden, they turned the table against me.

But to some extent, what he did is wrong. He labelled criminal charges against me, which he knows I am innocent of. As a public figure, he succeeded in tarnishing my image. He ordered that my passport be confiscated. He said I was a '419er'. What I could recall is that he gave me five cars and I bought another five from him. I have 10 cars. That is the transaction that transpired between us. How could I have duped him? If not for anything, I am a Muslim, I can’t do that, but I leave everything in God's hands.

Did he retrieve the cars he gave to you?
My cars have special plate numbers like 'Zee-Zee 1,' 'Zee-Zee 2,' 'Zee-Zee 3,' 'Zee-Zee 4' and 'Zee-Zee 5'. I bought them with my money. What he should understand is that even before I met him, I have been riding in flashy and expensive cars, courtesy of my parents. Though he came back begging me for forgiveness, he equally brought back the cars to me.

How about the case at the police station?
Since he wants reconciliation, he, send his people from Jos to come and withdraw the case.

Is it true that you were detained for two days?
I was detained for three days.

Since he withdrew the case, are you still going to press charges for character assassination and libel?
The guy did some damages to my person but as I said, I leave everything in God's hands. I won't go to court. Let Allah be the judge.

Even if he returns the five cars?
Even if he buys me a private jet, he has already destroyed my hard-earned reputation. Before I met him, I was lavishing in expensive cars, but then he succeeded in tarnishing my image in the eyes of my fans, friends and well-wishers.
At the police station, some people said Timaya gave you money to buy cars?
Yes, Timaya gives me money because he is my boyfriend, and I don't think it is wrong to give money to your woman.

Could you now say quitting the Kannywood industry has brought more blessings to you
I am a product of the Hausa film industry. The industry took me to where I am today. They are two different things. For the fact I denounced featuring in the movies does not mean I look down on Hausa films, but my business matters more to me now. There is more money in the music industry than in the movies. That's all I said.
People are yet to see your album.

When are you launching it?
My songs are being aired on most satellite channels like MTV, Channel O, etc. But very soon, they will storm the market.

But don't you think you are the architect of all that is happening to you?
I don't understand.

The way you cruise around in those expensive cars and do odd things...
It's about policy. That is how I want to live my life. You also have your policy and ideology in life. These cars are not that expensive, with little savings you could also buy one or two, or even 20. I don't think there is any cause for alarm. Allah is the provider, once you can pray, He can grant your wishes (laughter).

All your men are rich. Is it that Zee-Zee doesn't mingle with the lower class?
(Laughter) It is in my blood, everything I touch turns gold... (laughter again). It’s nature's gift to me. Everything I touch turns to gold. If an ordinary man on the street approaches me today, you will be surprised at what he would become tomorrow. All I can say is that money is not love, but love is divine. If you are with me, you will surely be among. (Laughter).

Censors Board Increases Fees

2009-10-02T02:13:00.000-07:00

(In LEADERSHIP TODAY)

By Al-Amin Ciroma

In its desire to enhance and facilitate service delivery to its stakeholders, the National Film and Video Censors Board will today, review upwards by 30 per cent the fees charged for the preview of films.
The review, the board said in a release signed by the corporations Assistant Director, Corporate Affairs, Yunusa Mohammed Tanko, is in line with its efforts to offer premium service to its stakeholders.
With the acquisition and installation of modern cinema style preview theatres at our Lagos office, which is capable of handling 35mm celluloid video, as well as a digital lounge for clients, the present fees charged for preview of films and movies, musical videos and others are no more realistic. The sustainability of this heavy resource base is a prerequisite in the effort to offer global best practices in the Nigerian movie industry.
He said the new equipment would enhance and facilitate online preview of films and movies within the minimum time possible. It will also afford owners of the movies the opportunity to follow and track the progress of the preview in a seamless manner without being present physically.
The board reterated its committed to the upliftment of the movie industry and therefore appeals to all concerned for co-operation and understanding.
The review, The corporation's Assistant Director, Corporate Affairs, Yunusa Mohammed Tanko, said for local films made in Nigerian languages (of 0-15 minutes) will be N10,000, while a Nigerian film in foreign language such as English language will be charged N20,00, while a film meant for exhibition will be charged N25,000.00. In a general perspective, NFVCB has made 30% increment of the applicable fees.
The board increased review fees was in 2002.

Bold Steps Taken By NAHCON For Sustainble Hajj

2009-10-02T02:09:00.000-07:00

(Published in my ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE COlumn today in LEADERSHIP)

By Abubakar Bello Kaoje

As we are aware, Hajj operation is time-bound and this requires a carefully-planned sequence of events for implementation. If for whatever reason, the time of a particular event is skipped, it would also eventually affect the other plans. For instance, the Nigerian Pilgrims are not the only pilgrims performing Hajj, it is a world wide affair, and the Hajj authorities in Nigeria have to therefore wait for Saudi Government to invite them for a meeting which would culminate into signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the admittance of the number of pilgrims to perform Hajj every year.
Based on the number of pilgrims admitted, the central body would coordinate and organize meetings with the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Armed Forces on how best to distribute and allocate the Hajj seats to these 38 organizational units.
Another difficult area in the administration of Hajj affairs is the decision of Hajj fares. Because of the different components in the Hajj fare, it takes time before the Hajj package decision is finalised. Decisions on the airfare, accommodation in Makkah and Madina, the ever fluctuating exchange rate of the US dollar in relation to the Naira, etc, all are decisions which must be reached before the Hajj package is determined. To decide on the airfare is the most cumbersome of all Hajj decisions. Being a purely technical area, the central body and the State Pilgrims' Welfare Boards across the country cannot alone decide the airfare. The government agencies like the Ministry of Aviation, the National Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), National Airspace Management Authority (NAMA) and the Federal Airport Authority (FAAN), these aviation experts would sit down to closely scrutinize the documents of the prospective Carriers with a laid-down procedure, sometimes it would take them two to three weeks to enable the pre-qualification of the Airlines for the airlift exercise.
Often times, the Hajj authorities are left with dilemma of selecting the Air carriers as most of the bidders for the job of airlifting the pilgrims are not owners of the Aircrafts. To employ the services of foreign Airlines will be difficult as the fare offered by Nigeria is not of international standards and therefore not attractive enough for foreign Airlines. Another reason is the attitudes of our pilgrims of carrying over size and multiple luggage and the delays or failure of the pilgrims to turn out on a scheduled flight. Also some of the Airports used for Hajj lack facilities required by Foreign airlines.
Thus, the Nigerian Hajj authorities have no alternative but to carry on and manage with such indigenous Airlines. This requires close monitoring of the agreement documents entered with their business partners. Sometimes, some of the Airlines assure the screening Committee of bringing the required capacity of Aircrafts and positioning the Aircraft on the agreed date and if you ask them any documents as regards to their assurances they would produce them, but on the day of positioning the Aircrafts the story would be different. They fail to fulfil their promises not because they want to disappoint, but that the success for scouting their Aircrafts depends largely on the vagaries of market forces.

Re: Ijbar –Marital Consent: The WRAPA Approach

2009-10-02T02:00:00.000-07:00

(Published today in my ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE column in LEADERSHIP)

By Mohammed A. Salisu

After carefully studied your piece on the above topic, I realised how versatile knowledge is in Islam. But then I believe the case studied organisation, the Women's Right Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), which is an avenue for rendering guidance as well mobilising women, but I am opined to think that WRAPA, though has good objectivity in its mandate, but don’t you think may run contrary to Islamic laws concerning certain issues? Before we digest this important question, let’s look at the marriage instituion in the islamic spectrum.
Allah (SWT) has created men and women as company for one another, and so that they can procreate and live in peace and tranquillity according to the commandments of Allah Ta’ala and the directions of His Messenger (SAW). In the holy Qur'an, Allah says: “And among His signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between your hearts. Undoubtedly in these are signs for those who reflect.” (30:21).
These verses of the Noble Qur'an clearly show that in contrast to other religions like Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism etc. which consider celibacy or monasticism as a great virtue and a means of salvation, Islam considers marriage as one of the most virtuous and approved institutions. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) declared, “O you young men! Whoever is able to marry should marry, for that will help him to lower his gaze and guard his modesty.” (Al-Bukhari)
Modesty was regarded as a great virtue by the Prophet. He said, "Modesty is part of faith." (Al-Bukhari)
The importance of the institution or marriage receives its greatest emphasis from the following hadith of the Prophet (SAW), “Marriage is my sunna. Whosoever keeps away from it is not from me.”
With these Qur'anic injunctions and the guidance from the Prophet (SAW) in mind, we shall examine the institution of marriage in the Shari'ah.
The word Zawaj is used in the Qur'an to signify a pair or a mate. But in common parlance it stands for marriage. Since the family is the nucleus of Islamic society, and marriage is the only way to bring families into existence, the Prophet (SAW) insisted upon his followers entering into marriage. The Shari’ah prescribes rules to regulate the functioning of the family so that both spouses can live together in love, security, and tranquillity. Marriage in Islam has aspects of both 'ibadah (worship) of Allah and Mu'amalah (transactions between human beings).
Now, let’s explore some of its conditions. After careful consideration of the Qur’anic injunctions and the traditions of the Prophet (SAW), it clearly show that marriage is compulsory (Wajib) for a man who has the means to easily pay the Mahr (dowry) and to support a wife and children, and is healthy, and fears that if does not marry, he may be tempted to commit fornication (Zina). It is also compulsory for a woman who has no other means of maintaining herself and who fears that her sexual urge may push her into fornication. But even for a person who has a strong will to control his sexual desire, who has no wish to have children, and who feels that marriage will keep him away from his devotion to Allah, it is commendable (Mandub).
However, according to the Maliki school, under certain conditions it is obligatory (Fard) for a Muslim to marry even if he is not in a position to earn his living:
•If he fears that by not marrying he will commit Zina.
•If he is unable to fast to control his passions or his fasting does not help him to refrain from zina.
•Even if he is unable to find a slave girl or a destitute girl to marry.
However some jurists suggest that if a man cannot procure a lawful livelihood, he must not marry because if he marries without any hope of getting lawful bread, he may commit theft, and in order to avoid one evil (his passions) he may become the victim of another (theft).
The Hanafi school considers marriage as Fard for a man:
•If he is sure that he will commit Zina if he does not marry.
•If he cannot fast to control his passions or even if he can fast, his fast does not help him to control his passion.
•If he cannot get a slave-girl to marry.
•If he is able to pay the dowry (Mahr) and to earn a lawful livelihood.
Marriage is Haram to a man, according to the Hanafi school, if he does not possess the means to maintain his wife and children or if he suffers from an illness, serious enough to affect his wife and progeny.
It is not desirable (Makruh) for a man who possesses no sexual desire at all or who has no love for children or who is sure to be slackened in his religious obligations as a result of marriage.
In a beautiful tradition the Prophet (SAW) has given the most important point that should weigh with every Muslim in selecting his bride:
“Whoever marries a woman solely for her power and position, Allah will only increase him in humiliation. Whoever marries a woman solely for her wealth, Allah will only increase him in poverty. Whoever marries a woman because of her beauty, Allah will only increase him in ugliness. But whoever marries a woman in order that he may restrain his eyes, observe cautiousness, and treat his relations kindly, Allah puts a blessing in her for him and in him for her.”
In order that problems should not arise after marriage the Prophet (peace be upon him) recommended that, in the selection of his bride, a man should see her before betrothal lest blindness of choice or an error of judgment should defeat the very purpose of marriage.

Ijbar, A Safety Valve?
The consent of both the man and the women is an essential element of marriage, and the Qur'an gives women a substantial role in choosing their own life partners. It lays down:
“Do not prevent them from marrying their husbands when they agree between themselves in a lawful manner.” (2: 232)
However, Imam Malik, gives a slightly restrictive interpretation to this verse and makes the choice of partner by a Muslim girl subject to the over-ruling power or Ijbar of her father or guardian in the interests of the girl herself.
It may sometimes happen that in her immaturity or over-zealousness, a girl may want to marry a man about whom she has distorted information or who does not possess good character or who lacks proper means of livelihood. In such a case, it is better, or rather incumbent upon the girl's father or guardian, that, in the wider interests of the girl, he restrains her from marrying such a worthless man and finds a suitable person to be her husband. Generally speaking, such marriages arranged by fathers and guardians work better than a marriage brought about through western courtship.
Now, the WRAPA way, do you think in this modern world, where our children are not well thought amidst societal influence with alien cultures and norms, if we disregard Ijbar, will it favour marital life in the Ummah? I quite agree that a girl’s consent is important, but I still hold it to my heart that parents’ interest to be supreme in contracting marriage. Therefore, the answer to my earlier question about the WRAPA approach is that if care is not taken, in the course of its objective criticisms, they may go contrary to the norms of the Islamic cultures. I recommended a thorough research be made before making publicity, although, the research work revealed that some Islamic scholars are involved, but still is not enough, they should widen the scope.

Gallery of Nigerian Movie Icons

2009-09-28T23:09:00.001-07:00

"A Film Has No Language"

By Al-Amin Ciroma
(published in my INSIDE KANNYWOOD column in LEADERSHIP, September 26, 2009)

Professionally, film is said to have no language. In Nigeria today, making a film constitutes one of the major projectors and image re-branding tool of the country. In the international market, Nigeria's motion picture stakeholders have succeeded in creating a niche for themselves and have succesfully written the country's name in gold as the second largest movie, producer. This has, indeed, boosted the image of Nigeria; hardly can any Nigerian scroll through cable satellite channels without seeing the works of Nigerian artistes. Film are also one of the very few ways of information dissemination. In Nigeria, a lot of talent put together to propel motion picture to the next height. Spread across the geopolitical zones of the country, movies are produced in the major indigenous languages- that is, Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo and above all with the official Nigerian language, English. Before now, film making was considered a business for dropouts and the destitute in the society, but today, the industry players are celebrated icons. So many practitioners put together their God– given talents to take Nigeria to the international scene. This article outlines citations of some of the outstanding personalities in Nigeria's giant motion picture industry.

•Nkem Owoh – You don't make a list of Nollywood’s outstanding personalities without a mention of Nkem Owoh. A lot who scream the name ‘Osuofia’ do not even know that this artisitc name predates Nollywood. And that is why he is a pioneer to what we know as Nollywood today.
Owoh was part of one of the first successful Nollywood films. Apart from writing the script, he also featured in the same film as ‘Marcus Ezeigwe.’ He didn’t seem to have arrived until the release of numerous other best sellers like Ukwa, Osuofia in London, etc. He instantly became a household name with his fame breaking down barriers. There is no doubt that Nkem has helped in re-shaping Nollywood as far as comedy and humour merchandising is concerned. For stamping his authority on the comedy and humour scene of Nollywood, for helping the world cure their hypertension, for several persons, both upcoming artistes and viewers alike, Nkem drives fast his vehicle to re-branding Nigeria.

•Ali Nuhu –At the formative stage of film-making in the northern part of the country, Ali Nuhu became one of the greatest icons behind it. Although, he started off and foremost with the English drama and TV soaps, Nuhu was later to become 'sarki' (king) of the Hausa film industry, popularly known as Kannywood. A versatile and multi-talent actor, the name Ali Nuhu is a household name, not only in the northern part of the country but also to neighbouring countries and Hausa speaking communities in the world. His role in Sangaya, Wasila, to Sitanda, eventually made him a star to watch. The panache and skilfulness of Nuhu gained him double role in the motion picture industry in Nigeria, being the master of the game of the Hausa film industry He has also succeeded in writing his name among the who's who in industry.
•Sam Loco – If there is anyone who has touched several souls through the profession he chose for himself, then that personality is Samuel ‘Locomotion’ Efenwokieke, ‘Sam Loco’ for the short. From Eredo, Edo State, Loco is gifted with the ease of speaking several Nigerian languages, which has made to cut across the boarders.
The son of a prison official who played soccer during his growing up days got a nickname- 'Locomotion'- from the field of play, which is today shortened to ‘Loco’. He was also a travelling salesman for a tyre manufacturing company before deciding to go and study Acting and Dramatics at the University of Ibadan. Apart from featuring in popular telelvision dramas like Hotel De Jordan, working with the University Ibadan Theatre Troupe, Sam Loco made national limelight when he starred in Langbodo, at the prestigious FESTAC ‘77. From then till date, while his contemporaries are living in retirement due to age, Daddy Sam Loco Efe is still waxing strong featuring in soaps, comedies, movies and other works of art. History will not forget his A+ performance in Piccadily.

•Clarion Chukwura – If you wish to talk about consistency, one of the stars you must not fail to talk about is Lady Clarion Chukwura. An amazon of the thespian world as well as groomed in the classrooms and stage of the University of Ife (now ObafemiAwolowo University)
She is called 'Madam Consistency' due to the manner in pwhich she delivers her lines on set. She makes it seem very easy. Have you ever seen Clarion make moves with her body while on set? She is fluid. No doubt a host of people like Chukwura deserve national honours for propelling Nigeria's image at the international arena.

•Sani Mu'azu – In those good old days when people were agitating for a way forward for Nollywood, there was a man who kept the flag aloft in the Northern part of Nigeria. That man is Sani Mu'azu.
People who are marvelled at his achievements, exposure and experience when they realise that he has come a long way featuring in the crew of Mr. Johnson and Soweto in the 80s.
•Okey Ogunjiofor – If you asked Oke Ogunjiofor what he thought he was doing when he gathered some desperate drama hungry young men and women to do Living In Bondage, the movie credited to have started Nollywood, he would readily tell you that he was driven by sheer deep passion for what he knew how to do.
Whether you are one of those who argue that there were other drama sketches put out on video before Living In Bondage, it has never been in doubt that the movie was all Nollywood needed to erupt like a volcano. Now you could count the number of off-shoots of that similar move-BOBTV, AMAA, Lagos International Film Festival, Abuja International Film Festival, several reality shows on television among others.
Ogunjiofor is just another Bollywood's Karan Johar first, for spearheading a revolution, which has overtaken him; for venturing into an area that has provided employment for several hundreds of thousands people, including the educated and the talented for engaging Nigerians with an unforgetable film story which has continued to be felt in their sub-conscious many years after its production.
•Joke Jacobs – It could be a very big task to be saddled with the responsibility of describing the personality of Nigeria's top actress and Joke Jacobs. Due to lack of words, one is tempted to use words like ‘quintessential’ or to better still a role model.
However you may want to look at it, Nollywood will never be complete if there is no mention of Joke Jacobs, wife of another internationally renowned thespian Olu Jacobs (who knows what their children would turn to later). Just one scene of any of her films will prove to you that she went into acting with her eyes wide open and has continue to influence younger artistes both on stage and on screen. Her strong points include her vocal delivery, her stage presence, her diction and her entire performance. With Joke, the microphone, the cameras glow, your screen lights up. She help the motion picture industry in Nigeria to grow stronger by the day.
•Chucks Mordi – There are people who do what you see and get recognition and there are several others whom you don't see, but have their fingers in everything. Chucks Mordi is one of them. Mordi was part of the beginnings of Nollywood and his passion took him to the United Kingdom, where he set up the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), UK Chapter. You can imagine how hard it would have been for him to do that. AMP in UK is an army with membership spanning Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Thumbs up to a son of the soil who has kept Nigeria’s flag flying across the border.

Ijbar –Marital Consent: The WRAPA Approach

2009-09-28T23:06:00.000-07:00

By Al-Amin Ciroma
(Pubished in my Islamic Perspective column in LEADERSHIP, Sept. 25, 2009)

The holy Qur’an (4:21) refers to marriage as a Mithaq (i.e. a solemn covenant or agreement between husband and wife), and enjoins that it be put down in writing. Since no agreement can be reached between the parties unless they give their consent to it, marriage can be contracted only with the free consent of the two parties. The Prophet of Islam (SAW) also said, “The widow and the divorced woman shall not be married until their order is obtained, and the virgin shall not be married until her consent is obtained.” (Al-Bukhari).
Being one of the sacred institutes in Islam, the holy Prophet (SAW) encourages his followers to marry and regenerate (good offsprings) so that he will be proud of them in the day of judgement. There are virtually many Ahadiths in support of marriage in Islam. He (SAW) said, "Marriage is my Sunnah (way of life), whoever reject my Sunnah is not of me." However, the format of contracting this sacred tradition varies in our society, while some subscribes to full consent of the spouse before marriage, others reject it and practice Ijbar.
Ijbar as an Arabic word means the act of forceful order (especially in the case of marriage). But in Islam, the consent of both the man and the women is an essential element of marriage, such that the girl's consent is immaterial, while her subsequent complaints are ignored and she is compelled to remain in the marriage. The Qur'an gives women a substantial role in choosing their own life partners. It lays down, “Do not prevent them from marrying their husbands when they agree between themselves in a lawful manner.” (Q:2, V:232).
However, Imam Malik, one of the great leading scholars of the Sunni schools of Islamic jurisprudence, gives a slightly restrictive interpretation to this verse and makes the choice of partner by a Muslim girl subject to the over-ruling power or 'Ijbar' of her father or guardian in the interests of the girl herself. It may sometimes happen that in her immaturity or over-zealousness, a girl may want to marry a man about whom she has distorted information or who does not possess good character or who lacks proper means of livelihood. In such a case, it is better, or rather incumbent upon the girl's father or guardian, that, in the wider interests of the girl, he restrains her from marrying such a worthless man and finds a suitable person to be her husband. Generally speaking, such marriages arranged by fathers and guardians work better than a marriage brought about through western courtship.
The case of Abu Juham bin Hudhaifah and Mu'awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan is relevant here. They proposed marriage to Fatimah bint Ghaith. The holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) advised Fatimah not to marry either of them on the grounds that Mu'awiyah was then a pauper and Abu Juham was cruel and harsh. So she married Usamah.
In its approach, Women's Right Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), which is a non governmental organisation, aims at giving legal aid and counselling service for women, mobilisation and sensitisation, skill acquisition and advocacy for legal terms, engaged in actualizing the rights of women under Islamic Law. The Project, which is funded by the MacArthur foundation, covers all the seven north-western States i.e. Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa and Kaduna State and has conducted series of activities to this effect under the Islamic Family Law (IFL) unit. The main objective of the forum was to engage in serious scholarship and research in the area of Islamic family law with a view to using the known rules of interpretation to analyse the law, enhance its application within the background of contemporary needs, excise harmful cultural practices which had over the years become embedded in the law and extend the frontiers of the law by advocating reliance on Fatwas (legal verdict) or the other schools of law where it appears beneficial and proper to do so.
In view of the above objectives, three levels of research were conducted in the project states whereby the researches conducted interviews with the women, Court officials and records of proceedings, eminent Ulama, N.G.O's, leaders of thought, the traditional rulers, the various Project State Government; Executive, Legislative and Judiciary and other stakeholders.
The researches revealed the ever widening gap between the true position of the Law and what is erroneously perceived by the public and often times the Court as to what the Law is. Incidences of shallow knowledge by the public and the Courts, harmful cultural practices, refusal to open wide the legal space, patriarchy were cited as the reasons which account for the hash treatment of women both in and outside the matrimony and the Courts. The findings made it necessary to engage experts in Islamic Law to research and present the true position of Islamic Law. It was anticipated that the experts would critically examine the Law as provided in the classical texts and excise there from all the harmful cultural practices embedded therein; re-examine the classical positions reached by the early Jurists and using the known tools of Jurisprudence, support or otherwise a shift in view of changing cultural moves and times, review the position of Maliki against other juristic positions, and suggest whether there is a need to import other juristic views to guide our Family Law positions and generally to examine the juristic milestones recorded by other Muslim nations in their practice of IFL. This was with a view to achieving a rich result and a hybrid of contemporary and classical positions. Two (2) researchers were commissioned from each of the seven (7) project states - one from the contemporary setting and the other from the orthodox. All research reports have been received but one.
Ijbar in its entirety, according to the research reveals that findings could not lend credence to any authority to show that the Holy Prophet (SAW) gave his blessings to its practice during his lifetime, secondly, its therefore shows that Ijbar as a product of Islamic jurisprudential thought, has no basis either in the Holy Qur'an or Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (SAW). Most importantly, it has revealed that the practice of Ijbar is mainly practiced by the Malikis (followers of the Maliki school of thought), while other schools of thoughts do not apply it as the latter do.
Majority of the Ulama interviewed agreed that the practice of Ijbar has caused a lot of problems for the girl victims and the society. They opined that the practice of Ijbar has been mainly exercised to serve the economic or material interests of the girl's parents and the prevalent alternative to seeking legal redress is the tendency for the girls preferring the option to run away from their husbands and parents' homes to places where they cannot be traced.
The Ulama also agreed that there is evident of a faulty understanding and application of the power of Ijbar even among the judges. According to them, the practice of Ijbar can be curtailed to address its dire consequences especially the high prevalence of drop outs from school, the health hazards it poses and the social and psychological perspectives of the departure of its victims into easy life styles.
At the end of the forum, some recommendations were resolved by the Islamic scholars and jurists present at the Jigawa state research validation meeting, the resolved the case of Ijbar such that marriage should be conducted with the consent of all parties going into it. They pointed out some negative consequences Ijbar bring on parties involved and therefore should be checked.
The aspect of marriage is greatly emphasized by Imam Bukhari. He, in fact, gave one of the chapters in his Sahih the significant title: "When a man gives his daughter in marriage and she dislikes it, the marriage shall be annulled." Once a virgin girl came to the Prophet (SAW) and said that her father had married her to a man against her wishes. The Prophet (SAW) gave her the right to repudiate the marriage. (Abu Dawud).
The problem today lies that many girls are forced to marry men they do not like. Their respect for their parents forces them to engage in wed lock. If it were up to them, then they would not have married that man. We have to care for the right of our daughters before giving their hands out for marriage.

The Craziest Thing I Ever Did –Ishaq Sidi Ishaq

2009-09-28T22:36:00.000-07:00

Born in Yakasai, Masallacin-jalli ward in Kano municipality, Ishaq Sidi Ishaq 'Dan Kwalisa’, began his film career during his secondary school days. He started featuring in the TV soap, Echo In The Dark, where he won the hearts of television viewers in the state. Ishaq was one of the pioneers of the Kannywood comic group, Rabiu Musa Ibro's cluster. He worked with the group for a while, after which he ventured into filmmaking in a directorial capacity. The first home video he directed was ‘Kamilu’. Whenever you ask Sidi about his passion for show business, Kannywood's most adorable director would simply smile and say, "I love entertainment." He attended Government College, Wudil, Kano State. 'Dan Kwalisa’ is now a student at the prestigious National Film Institute (NFI), Jos, where he is studying for a degree in Filmmaking. In this interview with INSIDE KANNYWOOD, ISHAQ SIDI ISHAQ lay bare his mind on his sudden disappearance from the industry to where he is now securing for himself an academic foundation of the game. He also revealed the craziest thing he’s ever done in his life and much more. Excerpts:

Published in INSIDE KANNYWOOD Column (Leadership) September 19, 2009

You are a famous movie director in Kannywood for a very long time, you have been silent. What has been happening to your career and what is responsible for all the silence?
I went back to school. I'm now a student of Film at NFI, Jos. It's not that I've been silent or out of business, but since I have always believed in quality, rather than quantity, I chose to suspend all film activities for a particular period of time.

What are you studying and how are you coping with the change of environment?
I am studying filmmaking. The change of enviroment is exciting. It has virtually changed almost everything about me. My life style has changed. Before now, I had been busy scheduling shootings, i.e one film after the other, having at least a month or more between them. But now, from Mondays through Fridays, I am always busy with my lectures. Another exciting thing is that most of the practicals are purely field works. What we normally do on location is that we produce short films as well as explore some trends in the motion picture world. With this contrast, and as a practising filmmaker who has been shooting films in drama format, it is surely a plus for me.
I remember the day, a colleague approached me and said, ‘Ishaq, I'm going to start shooting my project very soon and I'm directing it. Please what role would you like to take in in the crew?’ And I told him that I appreciate his invitation and would be there as an observer to advice adequately. When I went to location, I found myself carrying the extension cables, fixing the lights and other minor things that ordinarily I would have employed my boys (gaffers) to do. But then, I love what I am doing.

What should we expect from you at the end of your course?
Obviously, there would be a great change. I've attended several trainings and workshops, especially intensive filmmaking trainings in various fields. I also attended a training programme, that was organised by the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) where experienced filmmakers trained participants on certain issues concerning filmmaking. I have been a regular student of such workshops. Despite all these, I felt it was not enough. I felt I lacked the academic background, or let me say the indepth theoretical aspect of filmmaking which I'm proudly getting now.

How would you rate the Nigeria motion picture industry, the Hausa genre in particular?
It is progressing with the trainings and re-training session of the practitioners and stakeholders. I believe it will get better by the day. Thanks to the Motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN), especially the men behind it.
Do you think Kannywood is catching up with trends in the motion picture world?
Every industry has its peculiarities; its culture, morals, economic and social values that go with it. To some extent, yes. But it is not yet uhuru, there are quite a lot of things that need to be done.

How do you joggle between your job as a film- maker and the homefront?
I have not been on set for some time now. Recently, when I concluded El-Mustapha 2, I refused to go on set until I get fully settled with my studies, which I am doing now. Very soon I hope to see what the experience would look like when I go on set.

Would you say there is a difference with what you are doing now as a student and what it was before?
Of course, there is quite a difference, a very big one. In school you maintain the professional ethics and aesthetics of filmmaking. Everything has to be done the way it should be from the idea conception, script to screen.
I guess the audience are the to judge or answer this question. Some say it’s because of my style of directing, while some others attribute it to my experience as one of the pioneers of the Hausa film industry. Everybody has his own opinion about what qualifies Mr. A to be what he should be.

What do you think helped your career blossom as much as it has? Do you think you have a rival?
A couple of reasons: I have never compromised quality no matter what. I also refused to be misused. I see a lot of movies to analyse the styles as well as read books, either on the internet or elsewhere. Secondly, if I had a rival, he would have come to school as well as. Therefore, I don't have any rival.

With your success and highflying career in the industry, how do you intend to consolidate on this for the betterment of your future on the job?
I haven't had enough and that's why I'm back to school.

When you are not on set, what is your day like?
I hang out with friends. Sometimes, visit my relatives whom i may not have seen in a long while, due to the nature or my work.

What is the craziest thing you ever did as a filmmaker?
I did a film and sold it.

From what we are witnessing, a lot of film stars are riding in expensive cars and live in high ranks. It seems the industry is now lucrative.
Having strived so long and made your mark over the years, how wealthy would you say you are?
I am content with what I have, Alhamdulillah.

You have done a thousand and one movies, which one do you think projected you most?
The movie that projected me most and added a feather to my cap is Wasila, I've done quite a number of blockbusters that drew the attention of producers in Kannywood, yet Wasila is my box office.

Artistes pocket so much money now as fees, how much do you charge as a director?
I am just a student now. However, I've been behind the camera for a while, but I don't discuss my allowances in public.

It is generally believed that filmmakers or movie producers flirt with the actresses. Do you do that too?
I do not do that. However, in every profession, you have the good, the bad and the ugly. A professional remains a professional, while quacks remain quacks. The boys are always separate from the men, those who know what they are doing and, don't engage themselves in such nasty acts.

Although in the North, the industry is bound by some Shari'ah laws, have you ever had an experience where an actress tried to seduce you to get roles?
Whatever happens, the wiser ones know the implications, morally and religiously. I have never had any experience like that before.

But have you at one time or the other had an encounter with an actress who was ready to offer you sex for roles?
I have said it repeatedly that I don't have the experience. Those category of actresses always know the kind of persons they approach with such offers. I don't give them the face to tempt me. They say I'm strong-headed.

You mean if a beautiful lady winks at you, you won't respond?
(Laughter) Never! It is not in my character.

Artistes or film-makers are usually associated with a lot of scandals. As a movie director, have you ever been involved in such indignities?
I'm one of the guys that set the ball rolling and I have tried to conduct myself positively, to date, and I believe God has been, and still, behind me. This is evident in the kind of movies I make. Had I gotten myself involved in such indignities, I would have probably ‘gone with the wind’

How did you manage to overcome them (the scandals)?
Stay out of trouble; do the right thing at the right time.

You are still single. Can we say Ishaq is searching?
Not really

Economic Links and State of Development of Hausa Home Videos

2009-09-10T03:31:00.001-07:00

...On The Question Of Rebranding:
(Published in LEADERSHIP September 5, 2009)
According to reports by the Global Media Entertainment outfit commissioned by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC), the motion pictures industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world economy.
The sector turns out billions of dollars and generates millions of jobs worldwide. The PWC reports projected that the global entertainment industry generated over $470 billion by 2005.
The term ‘film industry’ is generally used to describe an umbrella of creative industry production activities, including film, television (drama and documentaries), commercials, still photography and multi-media.
The Nigeria Movie Industry (NMI) is comprised of the combined forces of Nollywood and Kannywood have made the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) to acknowledge the three main video and movie production centres of Lagos, Onitsha and Kano. Nollywood refers to movies produced in the production centres in Lagos and Onitsha as Nollywood, while Kannywood simply refers to the Hausa film industry domiciled across the North but with the marketing and production hub in Kano. It produces about 30 per cent of Nigeria’s movies which are predominantly in Hausa language but with few others in Fulfulde, Nupe, Kanuri, Tiv and English languages.
Presently, the NMI is the second largest producer of straight-to-home video entertainment movies in a whole world. According to the survey conducted in 99 countries by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Institute of Statistics (IS), and with the result released in May 2009, the year 2006 recorded feature length films produced video format, which shows India with 1,019, Nigeria 872, and United States 485. This record clearly shows Nigeria as the second largest world’s producer of films and Africa’s largest movie industry in terms of monetary value estimated at $250 million; the sheer number of 200 videos produced every month. Based on report, the Nigerian model has the multi-lingualism advantage as 56 per cent of the films are produced in local languages: Yoruba ,31 per cent; Hausa, 24 per cent; Igbo, 1 per cent and English films accounting for 44 per cent accordingly.
The Nigeria film industry has significantly more than any other endeavour in the last 15 years played a central role in establishing an international profile for the country’s culture. It is an industry of national importance and has been one of the greatest ambassadors for Nigeria around the world.
The Nigeria film industry has been identified as one of the top five growing sectors and has been selected as one of the key activities likely to produce economic growth.

•Economic Links
The Nigeria film and television industry is a significant component of our economy as it provides an important source of economic growth and employment. The creative process of putting a story into film is a complex, expensive and labour-intensive business operation. Thus, like any major business operation, film and television productions require a wide range of services and scores of personnel from frontline actors and directors to behind-the-scenes employees like sound engineers, set designers, and caterers. In meeting these material and resource demands, companies provide substantial economic benefits to a wide range of industries in the locality where production takes place. The economic significance of the film, television and video industry could be demonstrated by identifying the links between this sector and the rest of the economy. The film sector is one of the few sectors that could add value to a wide range of other sectors in the economy through the creation of demand for production and services. In general, the film industy outwits the rest of the economy: over the last nine years, the sector has grown by over 40 per cent. According to Leke Adler, the market potential of the industry in Nigeria is relative to the size of each state's economy, at least by N522.5b per annum.
The spin-offs of the film industry could be identified by studying its value chain. Each production results in jobs for camera operators, sound and lighting technicians, caterers, plumbers, carpenters, animal trainers, truck drivers, make-up artists, graphic artists, photographers, set designers, painters and actors. Production budgets are spent on a range of production from hardware to props, plants to steel, paint to timber, draperies to carpets, furniture to portable dressing rooms, generators to saddle makers, and restaurants to hotel rooms. The value chain of the film, television and video industry extends to many other sectors of the economy creating a catalytic growth effect. The economic multiplier used to calculate the amount of money generated by film production is estimated to be 2.5. This means that for every N1 spent on production, N2.50 goes into the local economy.
The export earnings and economic benefits of feature film, television and commercial production cannot be singularly directed towards industry-related services, facilities, equipment rentals or production purchases. Instead, the benefits are part of a wider economic platform of job creation, retail sales, manufacturing, travel and tourism earnings that would otherwise not be injected into the state.
Film production also creates a resource that has considerable export value.In the United States, film entertainment remains the second biggest export earner. In recent years, developing countries have realised the value of marketing locations for film, television and video production. Most developing countries only attract medium to low budget production, which results in limited benefit and spin-offs. These benefits are optimised when domestic film production companies generate a larger share of total production within a region or country.
Film production is a “locomotive” industry, similar to housing construction and automobiles, in that the number of production workers directly working in the industry belies the true impact of the industry on the economy because so many upstream, downstream, and peripheral industries depend on the primary production plant. Unofficial industry statistics indicate that over 300,000 jobs in Nigeria are directly involved in film production - more than the number of workers directly employed in any other sector. Once again, these statistics do not measure the number of workers in secondary and tertiary industries that are directly involved in film productions. This would include carpenters, electricians, caterers, drivers, seamstresses, construction workers, and many other professions that may not be exclusively or primarily devoted to film production.

•Rebranding
Re-branding, as far as I know, is to harbour a wind of change in character, nature and general orientation of the people in a certain community or society. Also, it may be termed as an act of reverting to status-quo. When applied to Nigeria, it means characterisation to the best. In so doing, this great nation will revert itself to its former state of uniqueness. Critics opined that there would be no rebranding without the motion picture industry as its main canvassers. Talking movies, re-branding is the change in the way we depict the image of our country and culture in our movies, both locally and internationally.
The epicentre of this workshop is the motion picture practitioners of Kannywood who have for long been exposed to a programme similar to what we are talking about today. Section 36, sub-section 1A and B of the NFVCB enabling law, explicitly coincide with the re-branding of Kannwood/Nollywood project where only films that promote Nigerian culture, unity, interest and which are not likely to induce the corruption of private morality, among others, are to be censored and classified for exhibition and distribution, both in and outside Nigeria. The point here is that NFVCB will ensure that only movies that re-brand Nigeria will see the light of the day.
Re-branding the Nigeria film industry is crucial as the sector has significantly more than any other endeavour in the last 15 years played a central role in establishing an international profile for our country and our culture. It is an industry of national importance and has been one of the great ambassadors for Nigeria around the world.
Consequent to the growth and development of the Nigerian Movie Industry, the NFVCB believes very strongly that the Nollywood/Kannywood and Nigeria in general should define their identity, character, image and influence from the movie’s global window.
I hope the practitioners of Kannywood will utilise this workshop to provide integration of cultural values and cohesion within the Northern film industry thereby desisting from the Indian-type films the region is known for.
At this point, I would like to inform the partcipants and resource persons at this workshop that the director-general of the NFVCB has brilliantly initiated a New Distribution Framework (NDF), which if fully implemented through the board’s shared responsibility plan with state governments, will have a national coverage and serve as a medium through which Kannywood will be re-branded.

•How can we rebrand Kannywood?
Considering the following facts, I believe Kannywood will come to stay if and only if:
-Movies are produced in the context of the religion and culture of the people represented.
-All industry activities are conducted in the context of the religion and culture of the people represented.
-Motion picture practitioners are adequately, religiously, culturally, and professionally trained.
-Film making is not considered unislamic.
-Film makers Are not stigmatised or exposed to stigma by clerics.
-Our religious and cultural institutions appreciate the value of the film industry and engage in sensitising and educating the practitioners through seminars and workshops.
-The Northern businessmen and women appreciate the industry and invest in it.
-Due process and rule of law are absolutely observed.
-Kannywood is sanitised through sensitisation, stakeholders/consumer education, monitoring and legal action taken against recalcitrant producers, distributors and unyielding pirates.
-The cultural, national values and dignity are not compromised while educating and entertaining the public.
-Professional guilds and associations are empowered.
-Stringent conditions imposed on practitioners by some government agencies are softened.
-All industry stakeholders unite, develop, and implement a programme of action that could move the industry forward.
-The Northern Nigeria is perceived as the premiere location offering the film industry a unique blend of professional services - locations, skills, and other support services.
-Locations, facilities, and services are of the highest quality and offer some of the best value for money.
-Kannywood is regarded as an important contributor to the region's economic growth, and is identified as a priority sector, supported by the community at large.
-The Northern state governments offer competitive incentives to attract inbound production activities.
-Filming contributes significantly to creation of new jobs and increasing number share directly in the benefits derived from the industry.
-Filming becomes an all year round cultural and economic activity.
Lastly, I would like to urge both the regulators and operators to adhere to the rule of law and due process in all their endeavours and fight all forces that hinder the growth of the industry. Thank you.

Dr. Sarari is North-West zonal coordinator of NFVCB. He delivered this paper at the just concluded workshop organised by Zaria Film Makers, at Congo Confrence Hall, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

On NFVCB's NDF: We Are Selling The New Distribution Framework - Rabo

2009-08-29T06:41:00.000-07:00

By Al-Amin Ciroma
(Published in LEADERSHIP today)

In 2007, when Mallam Abubakar Rabo took over the mantle of leadership as the director-general of the Kano-State Censorship Board, he inherited a movie industry that had no standard or respect for professionalism. Most of the companies in the industry were existing in portfolios or in vehicles. They were not even registered with CAC and had no structures. And so he started a clean up exercise targeted at sanitising the industry and building structures. Many stakeholders considered his measures then as being too stringent . He proudly opened up in this interview to say that in Kannywood today that, 'We are selling the new distribution framework' . He also spoke on a wide range of issues in the industry and on the soft loans the state government is giving to filmmakers to raise standards. Excerpts:

On assessment of the movie industry vis-a-vis job creation and youth empowerment
I want to say that the movie industry, particularly Kannywood is a very good economic activity. It’s an empowerment sector and of course it is very complementary to the gross domestic product (GDP) of Nigeria as a nation. I have to appreciate the administration of Umaru Musa Yar'Adua for the vision 2020 with regards to economic growth, as projected.

On the level of compliance by stakeholders
The level of compliance is encouraging, because we are speaking professionalism this time around. We are speaking ethics; we are speaking standards when it comes to the employment of gadgets in public projects, filmmaking in particular. So when you speak in line with what is the standard; what is the practice, I don't think you will have any problem with very good hands. People used to cheap projects are used to cheap popularity, and they don't appreciate modern trends. Some are even drop outs. They see our measures as being stringent. How can you convincce a mediocre person, somebody that has not yet completed secondary school to conform to modern trends? A professional in the industry, like a movie director, ought to have some directing skills, likewise a producer, a scriptwriter and so on. It is not just talent or creativity that matters. It is far more than that, because when talent is shaped educationally, then definitely the outcome is going to be a multiplier of positive trends. When we were new here, there was not one production company with a corporate registration operating in Kannywood. Now we have more than 52 that are duly registered with the CAC and pay their taxes. They are no longer tax evaders. They register with the state Ministry of Commerce, co-operatives, and register with the local authorities.

On conviction of Iyantama
No practitioner was taken before our mobile courts and charged on anything outside the law. If people are sincere, they should find out. We are now in the world of verification, world of scientific proof. Things shouldn't be concluded without given fair hearing being given to the other party. Far more than what is being said about a stakeholder that was prosecuted or taken for prosecution, before any court of law, the Board has a stake. We ought to be contacted.
All we do is to supplement, to provide and to complement prosecution counsels where very necessary, with facts, evidence and the necessary sections of the law establishing our operations to prove beyond reasonable doubt that so and so person is really a defaulter. So, Hamisu Lamido Iyantama in particular was never in the history of his case regarded by the counsel before the court of law as a practitioner outside the film industry. He was taken as a practitioner in the Kannywood industry and was charged from the appropriate section of the Kano State Censorship Board’s law and he was sentenced accordingly by the same court of law. So ours is a legal battle from the point of professionalism and from the point of law and we are soft and open-minded people. We always invite stakeholders to learn their mistakes for the first time, but where crime or breach of law persists, then we have to go ahead with prosecution, this is our style, we believe in proactive measures. First of all, we issue a warning sometimes, but if crimes persist we don't have any other option but rather to prosecute.

On film release in Kano
This is in line with the arrangements of NFCVB, that states have the right to have similar regulatory agencies. This is the provision of the Nigerian constitution, concurrent legislation. In the concurrent legislative list of the 1999 amended constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, items 16, and 13 spelt out the power of the state assembly or state assemblies to establish similar bodies meant for censoring.

On whether the arrangement would not create a bottleneck
It is never a bottleneck when authorities are exercising their constitutional powers and whosoever feels offended by the state and local authorities’ nature is trying to be a deviant and I don't want to believe that it’s the culture of our practitioners. In Nigeria, there are customary laws operating in some quarters of the nation. There is the penal code in the northern part of this country, notwithstanding the constitution that operates in the entire nation. So it is not seen as a bottleneck by the good minds. In fact it is even better for you to be checked locally when it comes to the peculiarities of where you are operating-the societal values. It is better known by the local authorities, it is better known by the local stakeholders, it is now reshaped and it is now blessed and certified by the local authorities. It’s making your project ‘heavy’ because even if you take it for international exhibition, you will start by saying that even your local quarters appreciate your project, proven by the certification and the national certification. And that as a good citizen of your country, I am in compliance with the requirement and this is the position of the DG of NFVCB. He was saying that state censorship agencies, being very close to the stakeholders, are in a better position to respect and ensure compliance with the societal values, compliance to the local requirement of practitioners, than even the national video censors and when such certification is presented to the National Film and Video Censors Board, they would assume that things have been done on their behalf by the local or by the state agency.

On Filmmakers fleeing from Kano
This is history! When we were new here, we were of the view that things ought to be done the right way, the professional way, the standard way. Somebody who is used to M3500 cameras and now you are talking digital camera, he feels these changes are too stringent. Somebody who is used to filming without a script, you are now saying, scripts must be introduced, somebody who is operating a mobile production company, you are now saying must have an office, he feels it’s too stringent. Somebody who doesn’t regard the CAC or their form of registration and certification.

On the relationship with stakeholders
The relationship is cordial, because what is expected of a mother is that she breastfeed her child, is lenient with the child, shows some amount of mercy to the child. This is why we are now introducing soft loans to the stakeholders. In the law establishing this Board, it is not well accommodated that we are a filmmaking agency, or we are a development agency to film activities. We are nothing but a regulatory body, just like the NFVCB. There is no department given a very bulk amount of money from the national treasurey to be administering soft loans to the NFVCB because it’s not the primary of the body. But now we at the local level come to appreciate that, no we don't have Nigeria Film Corporation (NFC) like the nation is operating, you understand. So now why don't we make the government appreciate the need for investment. Now the government has appreciated, that and has started investing money. It has started investing in skill. We have sponsored more than 15 practitioners to various technical and training workshops. We were there, at Shoot! 2008. The participation of Kano State was higher than other states of the federation and we all sponsored the practitioners just to ensure that there is skill in Kannywood. Above all, we want the filmmakers in appreciate the code of ethics attainable to their profession. You can only have this if you have the knowledge. That’s why we have embarked on a series of training, seminars.

On areas of collaboration with NFVCB
There is the first offer given to, us which we are still looking into, by the director-general of NFVCB. He is using this Board as a primary or preliminary censoring agency for the national preview committee. I see that as a very good offer, a situation whereby our certificate will be requested. Any film that is Kannywood-based, any film that is made about our native culture, native society, will be introduced to the Board through our certification. I see that as a very good offer. Secondly, there is the area of having a sort of memorandum of understanding. When we accommodated the DG (NFVCB), we hosted him for a two days familiarisation visit where we interacted. The board, the state board, the national board and teeming stakeholders, so look at the level we have been operating at. Even when we were at Tinapa, the key paper presented by the NFVCB’s boss was remarked. We are now selling the New Distribution Framework (NDF), we administered questionnaires to our stakeholders of all the ideas of this new framework for exhibitors introduced by NFVCB. We are here at the grassroots to complement the national arrangement, with consideration to our peculiarities.

On ensuring that films released before the take-off of NDF are withdrawn and re-distributed to conform with the new framework
I believe that where we are expected to complement NFVCB to that effect, (the withdrawal), if we are communicated to, if we are involved, we will do it officially and even if we are not officially involved, or we are never asked, out of our appreciation of the wisdom behind these initiatives, believe me, we will be advocates and we will encourage our stakeholders to appreciate that what is being introduced, is for the development of the industry.

On the area of film development
Presently, we make the government appreciate things through a task force committee established by the Kano State government. A committee that came into being as a result of the Hiyana saga, the controversial film clip. We made the government appreciate the fact that, the history of our industry goes way back to when troupes were 100% under the sponsorship of the state government, under the sponsorship of media houses owned by the state government in the northern part of this country.
On the area of training, we have so far, of recent organised a cinematography workshop jointly with the French embassy, the Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN), another professional association, to ensure that our cinematographers operating from Kannywood have the best experience.

On attracting filmmakers from other regions to Kannywood
We are trying to do films to meet our local, unique, peculiar requirements. It is when you have a unique package that people will come to appreciate your potential. Let me give you an example. The typical Hausa bowl which you use to eat, if you are exposed to it and if it is introduced in projects, use the way we were living before the contemporary modern building, if it is well packaged, believe me, somebody from Asia, America or Europe will be interested in the uniqueness. But in a situation whereby you are making semi-western sort of projects, a copyright from India for example, nobody will appreciate you. Therefore, before you invite somebody to come to your house, you have to put necessary structures in place.

Taking you away from business, how do you relax?
I relax with my kids, watching cartoons, it has also made me adapt to their way of doing thing; you know kids with cartoons. Sometimes we even argue. I derive pleasure in playing with kids.
Culled from The Classifier

2-Effects Empire Rejoices On Birth Of New Baby

2009-08-26T22:30:00.000-07:00

By Al-Amin Ciroma
(Published in LEADERSHIP -- August 22)

The Kannywood’s Dolce & Gabbanna, Yakubu Mohammed (Yax) (famous movie director, lyricist & singer) and Sani Musa Danja (top actor, producer and playback singer) are celebrating the addition to Yax’s family through the safe delivery of his bouncing baby girl. The baby was born Thursday August 13, 2009.
The naming ceremony and Walimat took place at ace Director’s residence, Saminu Link, Badawa Layout, off Sardauna Crescent, Nasarawa, Kano last Thursday August 20, in line with the Islamic traditions. In attendance were cerebrated icons of the industry, including relatives, friends and well wishers.
Yakubu Muhammed and his lovely wife Halima-Sa’adiyya, named their beloved daughter, Nadiya-Ummu Salama.
It will be recalled that Danja, last year, also celebrated his daughter's (Khadijatul-Iman) naming ceremony in Abuja, where he and his wife, Mansura, hosted the crème-de-la crème of the society.

...And Nollywood: On Edochie's Release

2009-08-26T22:16:00.000-07:00

Published on August 22, 2009 (LEADERSHIP)

By Al-Amin Ciroma
Stories on the update about the recent kidnapping of the renowned Nollywood star, Pete Edochie show that the Nollywood dude has been set free by the kidnappers after an undisclosed amount was paid as ransom, his son Uche Edochie, has said. Some sources close to the family said that the kidnappers initially demanded N50m and when they went ahead to plead, reduced the ransom to N10m.
The veteran actor was held by the kidnappers for about 24 hours; from Sunday last week when he was kidnapped till Monday, 17 August 2009.
He was kidnapped at a village called Npkor, a surbub community near Onitsha in the company of his family members. Armed men stopped the car he was travelling in and Pete Edochie was the only one kidnapped. Details still foggy since there has been no trace of the kidnappers.
Pete Edochie is considered one of Africa's most talented actors, by both Movie Awards and Movie Magic's Africa Magic Cable network. Although a seasoned administrator and broadcaster, he came into prominence in the 1980s when he played the lead role of ‘Okonkwo’ in an NTA adaptation of Chinua Achebe's all time best selling novel, Things Fall Apart.
Edochie got into radio broadcasting in 1967 as a junior programme assistant after which he was elevated to the level of a Director. He was director of programmes, but doubling sometimes as Deputy Managing Director and occasionally acting as Managing Director.
He quit ABS because the government decided to politicise the affairs of their FM station, thereby resulting in the entire management being asked to move out, including him. He was to be the immediate successor to the MD but had to leave and enrol in the movie industry.
Prior to that, he had featured in Things Fall Apart and had won International Awards. The BBC flew into Nigeria to interview him for his role in Things Fall Apart.
Minister of Information and Communications, Dora Akunyili, in a statement, condemned the attack and called on security agents to ensure his quick release and also, counter future occurences.
Also speaking, the president of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ejike Asiegbu said, “We at AGN are not happy with the kidnapping and abduction of Chief Pete Edochie. We condemn it and pray that government will interfare and rescue the matter from future occurence.”
Meanwhile, lots of people are sending in their comments on the matter. A blogger posted his comments on what he termed 'lies' of the police, "Is it not embarrassing that the Anambra State Police Command said Pete Edochie was not kidnapped, but that armed bandits escaped with his car and just carried him along to use his influence to pass the Police whereas in fact, he was kidnapped and a ransom paid before he was released? What kind of Police Force do we have in this country? Must our police continue to tell these kind of infantile lies?"
Many movie makers in Nollywood have condemned the incident. A market survey revealed that the case brought a hault in the movie business in Nigeria. A lot of people, according to the survey, have been thrown out of business since the beginning of the case. “It is unfortunate, because since Edochie was kidnapped, we can tell the amount of loss experienced by to the industry, because we can’t do anything...” cried one movie maker.

Beyond The Shores... From Bollywood: Sharukh Khan Detained At US Airport

2009-08-26T22:14:00.000-07:00

Published in LEADERSHIP (August 22, 2009)

By Al-Amin Ciroma
The famous Filmfare Best Actor, 2008, Sharukh Khan was said to have been detained by security agents at the Newark International Airport, New Jersey for hours. The Bollywood actor said he was humiliated after being detained for questioning at the immigration department of the airport, but later downplayed the incident as an "unfortunate procedure."
Reports indicate that Khan, 43, was questioned for more than an hour and detained, according to him because, his picture showed up on a security alert list. "It was absolutely uncalled for, having just finished work there a couple of weeks ago," he said. Adding that, "They said I have a common name which caused the delay... they checked my bags... I felt angry and humiliated."
In a statement, the officials at the airport said they were only concerned about the actor's luggage, which was reported missing. According to them, the questioning was part of routine process. The statement further indicated that the examination took only 66 minutes - which they said would've taken less time had Khan's luggage not been lost, a statement, which the actor denied, saying that he was singled out for questioning by the US immigration officials due to his Muslim name -- sparking outrage among his millions of Indian fans, as well as senior politicians and the Indian press.
"America needs to understand one thing... that there are about 190-195 smaller countries and that make up the rest of the world. It's not an isolated, parallel universe existence for this country. There is a whole world which makes all the good and bad that is happening," said the actor, who is one of the biggest names in Bollywood.
"So if we are scared of violence and terrorism, all of us are responsible for it. It's not that the world is and America is not," he said. Khan further disclosed that he understood US security concerns after the 9/11 attacks.
Meanwhile, the Indian civil aviation minister vowed to take the matter up with the US government, while Indian newspapers slammed the discrimination allegedly inflicted on one of the country's most loved actors.
US officials have said that Sharukh Khan, was subject only to routine procedures at the airport and was questioned for little more than an hour. But the actor Khan, just came back from the United States where he finished shooting his film, My Name is Khan, a movie due out next year that features the contentious subject of racial profiling.
The US embassy in New Delhi attempted to end the controversy describing Khan as a "global icon," who was a welcome guest in the United States.
It will be recalled that series of classic racial profiling have hit Bollywood icons, and this is seen as a clear abuse of civil liberties and lack of due diligence from the bureaucratic side of the US government. "It's not the iconic Sharukh Khan who should be intimidated, its the lazy, ignorant, unionized employee who should feel threatened and it is time to kick to the curb the incompetent, in a recession full of qualified people who can do the job of a US border official far better," says the film maker.
Reports also show that famous among those humiliated were Kamal Haasan, an Indian actor, who was detained in April 2002 for hours at the airport, after commencing the film Pantchathathiram's shoot in Toronto, on his way to Los Angeles. Reports also show that Aamir Khan had a similar experience a month before Haasan at a Chicago airport.
"Each year thousands more tourists and famous filmmakers join the silent ranks of those terrorised by the racial profiling practiced by the Western immigration and police. What chance does an average tourist have in the US when even the Ex-President of India, Dr. Kalam was hassled there," added Mr. Nair, the famous Indian Filmmaker, stressing the fact that this is not an isolated incident.

Mourinho And Muslim World

2009-08-25T13:22:00.000-07:00

Mourinho's Ramadan comments have landed him in hot water once again as Islamic dignitaries react with anger...

Mourinho was my hero until August 25! I respect those who respect other people's opinions, thoughts, religions and way of life. As a Christian, he should respect the doctrines of Islam because both are divine from God. A true man of God should at least have a fair bit of interllectuality. If your player can not perform well because he is fasting, why should you make a nasty comment on him? As far as we know, Ramadan is a cleanser. It has positive reactions to Muslims. Therefore, Mourinho should keep quiet!!!

The player in question was Sulley Ali Muntari, a Ghanian.