Nollywood Meets Kannywood: Best Of Kannywood’s Hausa Movies

It’s no news that regional division in the Nigerian film business has existed for some time. Actors from the country’s west/south refer to themselves as Nollywood stars, whereas those from the North see themselves as Kannywood stars. Even though there are other regionally based sectors in the Nigerian film industry, Nollywood and Kannywood are the most well-known among moviegoers in Nigeria. Furthermore, these sectors have produced superstars in the Nigerian film industry and shone a spotlight on some northern stars who have been able to bridge the gap between Nollywood and Kannywood with their talent.

Kano state is the hub of the Kannywood film industry, collectively called Kannywood and named after Kano. It goes without saying that the name was inspired by American Hollywood, Indian Bollywood, and other comparable “woods” around the world. This was developed alongside the “national” film industry known as Nollywood, where the movies are made in English. The performers are almost exclusively Christians from the South, with only a small number coming from the North.

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It is, however, essential to note that Nollywood also includes personalities like Ali Nuhu, Rahama Sadau, Maryam Booth, Uzee Usman, Sani Danja, Bello Muhammad Bello, General BMB, and others.

In contrast to Nollywood, Hausa, the primary language in the North, is the most commonly spoken indigenous language in Nigeria and the second most spoken language in Africa after Swahili.

This article draws attention to some of these Kannywood productions -out of the many that have received rave reviews from locally and internationally acclaimed audiences.

The Milkmaid (Yar Nono)

Released in November 2020 and directed by Desmond Ovbiagele, and has casts like Anthonieta Kalunta, Maryam Booth, Gambo Usman Kona, Ibrahim Jammal, and Patience Okpala, amongst others, The Milkmaid is one of the trendiest Hausa movies that has gained wide public attention, especially with the themes the movie seemed to portray.

Insurgency and its devastating effects are highlighted in this movie, as the activities of some sects of extremists are depicted and primarily their demeaning actions against women. In the film, a milkmaid loses her sister in the wake of an Insurgency attack, and all her efforts to reunite and find her sister proves difficult with every step she takes to find her family.

Voiceless (Mara Murya)

Released also in November 2020, This thriller was produced by Rodgers Ofime and directed by Nollywood Veteran Robert Peters. It had cast like Asabe Madaki, Uzee Usman, Adamu Garba, Yakubu Muhammed, and Rekiya Ibrahim Attah. The movie has an emotional storyline while depicting how harrowingly sad life has been for some living in Northern Nigeria.

The Story of Sadama and Goni is told and is set in insurgency Northern Nigeria and brings to mind the emergence of Boko Haram and the dreadful insurgents’ abduction of Chibok schoolgirls. Asabe Madaki played the role of Sadama, while Adamu Garba was Goni. The duo was victims of kidnapping terrorists “Sojojin Aljanna” [The Army of Paradise] led by Banza(Uzee Usman), and their sad tale of trials and tribulations for survival turned into a story of love.

This award-winning movie continues to be rated among the best Nollywood movies that depict culture amidst present-day realities and has once been crowned Movie Of The Year, Movie With Best Cinematography, Movie With Best Production Design, and its cast has won Best Director Of The Year for Robert Peters, Best Hausa Actor, Best Actress In A Leading Role at 2021 Best Of Nollywood Awards. In addition, it garnered over $2 Million at the box office and was featured on Netflix.

Jalil

Released in March 2020, Jalil is a Drama Thriller and was produced by Leslie Dapwatda, Veronica Davis, and Kelly D. Lenka. Leslie also served as director of this movie with casts like Sadisu Abba, Ibrahim Aburafiqa, Isaac Benjamin, and Maryam Booth. The gripping and quite emotional Plot is set around a modern family facing a huge decision. Jalil is an Arabic word that means Great, Magnificent, or Exalted.

The Plot sees a couple, Yusuf and Zarah, played by Maryam Booth, plagued by the uncomfortable situation of their son Jalil who has a hole in his heart and requires surgery abroad. Unfortunately, funds are scarce for the family; thus, the family revisits past feuds, lost connections, and family matters to raise the required funding. And with a stroke of bad luck, a new twist presents itself as the couple is torn between saving their boy or his grandmother.

Shot by Noless Studios in Jos Plateau state, the movie made its debut in the United States and received rare reviews for taking in a different perspective from the usual Insurgency and terrorism-themed movies of those most Hausa movies with northern settings seemed to have at the time, especially with it being the prevalent topic of the times. It had a Box office budget of $25,000, and some scenes were shot in the US.

Mati a Zazzau

Released in February 2020, Yasen Auwal directed this movie and has producers like Rahama Sadau and Sadiq Sani Sadiq on set. It featured an impressive cast, including Rahama Sadau, Sadiq Sani Sadiq, Tahir I. Tahir, Adamu A. Zango, Rabiiu Rikadawa, Umar Gombe, and former Mavins signee Hadiza Blell also known as Di’Ja.

The movie title, “Mati In Zaria” has a plot where a young man Mati played by Sadiq Sani Sadiq, flees a village called Rimau after duping people. While on the run, he learns that his late father left him some wealth and inheritance, and he claims it as his right. But it wasn’t to become easy for him as even the village head, amongst others, seemed interested in the wealth and sought to take it. Moreover, Madina, the king’s daughter, played by Di’Ja, was the maiden to be betrothed, and here, a rather unusual love story develops and highlights the Plot for Mati.

Fanan

Released in 2019, Fanan was directed by Sheikh Isah Alolo and produced by Mansurah Isah. With Cast like Yakubu Muhammed, Sani Danja, Iman Sani Danja, Sabeera, Rahama M.K., and Khalifa Sani Danja, the movie’s plot centers on a married woman Fanan, played by Sabeera, who begins to receive ill treatment from her husband Kamilu played by Yakubu Mohammed, after he starts having extra marital affairs with Madam Jessica whose role was played by Rahama M.K. She finally quits the marriage and marries Alhaji Sammani, whose role was played by Sani Danja. With time, Jamilu discovers Madam Jessica has played him and tries to return to his now ex-wife, but sadly, it is already too late.

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Even though the movie contained quite typical Kannywood storylines/plots, it received rare reviews for its “quality.” It even received the Kannywood Movie Of The Year at the 2021 360 Hausa Recognition Award. It was said to have premiered in Kano in October 2021 and became the first Hausa Movie to gross approximately N1.2 Million on its first day. On Day 3, it had an estimated N9.2 Million in revenues.

Juyin Sarauta

Also meaning “The Royal Ascendance,” this movie was shot and released in 2017 by Producer Balarabat Ramat Yakubu, Ado Ahmad Gidab Dabino MON, and directed by Falalu A. Dorayi. It had the cast of Tijani Asase, Alassan Kwalle, Hauwa Ahmad, and Ado Ahmad Gidab Dabino MON, amongst others. The movie’s Plot was set to bring to light the effects of the Participation of Women in Power creation, especially in the North, where the Male gender reigns supreme and are backed by cultural and religious laws that override some of the rights of these women.

Set in the colonial 20th-century era, Sarki Yusuf, played by Ado Ahmad Gidab Dabino MON, an Emir of Jadarwa, has reached his end and is about to die. As such, a new Emir must emerge following his death. However, with the many eyes on the throne, including his wives, concubines, and even enslaved people who feel they or their children deserve a shot at the crown, chaos breaks out as they are all driven by jealousy and make moves to be crowned by the people no matter the cost. Deaths are recorded, and a lot of feuds are experienced. The twist and turns of the movie culminated in the crowning of a less likely and the least privileged individual due to revelations and revealed truths that bring history to the fore and show that destiny can be delayed but never denied.

The movie received considerable funding from the Project Act Nollywood to, over N28 Million. It won the Best Film In Nigerian Language Award at the 2017 Zuma Awards and had Ado Ahmad Gidab Dabino MON among the Best Actor nominees.

Tsakanin Mu

Produced by Abubakar Bashir Maishadda and directed by Ali Nuhu, Tsakanin Mu which is also interpreted to mean “Between Us,” was released in 2020 and had the cast of Ali Nuhu, Umar M Shareef, Maryam Booth, Maryam Yahaya, Nura Hussaini, Yakubu Mohammed and a host of others. The movie’s plot centers around the love life of a young man Fahad, played by Umar Shareef, the son of a wealthy businessman, Alhaji Rabiu, played by Nura Hussaini, who has fallen in love with a lady from a poor home Nafisa, played by Maryam Yahaya.

To fulfill his father’s wish, however, he gets married to Rumaisa, played by Booth, the daughter of Professor Tahir, whose role is gracefully played by Ali Nuhu. Long story short, the marriage doesn’t meet expectations, especially following their different family philosophies and her lifestyle away from tradition’s moral and cultural stance. So he runs back to Nafisa, who is the total blend of the kind of woman he is searching for.

In its first two weeks of release, it had already made around N3.2 million and remained one of the highest-grossing movies of that year.

Aisha

The film Aisha, which Hafizu Bello directed, is well-received critically and commercially. Earning more than N5.5 million during its extended run in two theatres eclipsed Kayi Nayi (Dir, Gumzak 2021) to become Kannywood’s highest-grossing film. This is unsurprising given that Abubakar Bashir Mai-Shadda, Kannywood’s “box-office king,” produced the film. The titular character, Aisha (played by Amal Umar), dies after being raped, and her parent’s fight for justice is at the center of the narrative.

University student Aisha (Amal Umar) comes from a low-income home. Malam Balarabe, her father (Nura Hussaini), works hard to ensure her success. She is, however, discovered lying, raped, and injured on campus one fateful day. Soon after, the cops arrive and transport her to the hospital. However, the university administration is more worried about the school’s reputation. As a result, they work along with the doctor (Abba El- Mustapha), SP Audu Makera (Adam A. Zango), and the police officer in charge of the case to cover up the embarrassing event.

The Plot is very convoluted but expertly put together. The story is realistic, and the movie offers a powerful message. It brings to light the bleak reality of major misconduct by students in some higher education institutions. It features Amal Umar, Nura Hussaini, Adam A. Zango, Sani Danja, Shamsu Dan Iya, and Kanayo O. Kanayo of Nollywood, who plays the Judge.

Lamba

Lamba, a social satire created by Abubakar Bashir Maishadda, is set against “Audio money,” a colloquialism for the false presentation of affluence. This Ali Gumzak-directed comedy’s title tune was already trendy before it aired. This has enabled the movie to surpass Fanan (Dir. Alolo 2021) ‘s first-day record of 1.25 million dollars with a total of 1.32 million.

https://youtu.be/76h85wY5250

It describes how three young men—Adam A. Zango, Umar M. Sharif, and Ado Gwanja—show off fake wealth to win the hearts of the sophisticated women they encounter online. Later on, their true identity is revealed in funny, masterfully staged sequences that make the audience chuckle. Despite the script’s lack of originality, the movie is a great comedy that has made audiences laugh. Aminu Sharif (Momo), Maryam Booth, Maryam Yahaya, Bilkisu Abdullahi, Aisha Najamu, and others are among the other cast members.

Hikima

This murder mystery film was developed with a significant budget to suit Netflix’s specifications. However, it hasn’t yet aired on the online watching site. The movie had its cinematic premiere in late 2021, and it was made available to the general public in 2022. It narrates the tale of Sadiq (Nasir Naba), a lecturer in philosophy.

The story opens with a court hearing when Sadiq is charged with killing his female student. Although the movie has a profoundly exciting plot, many viewers find it confusing. Additionally, it stands out from its competitors this year due to the cinematography and actor’s performance, among other factors. It was produced by Mustapha Ahmad (Alhaji Sheshe), and Hafizu Bello directed it. It features a number of actors, including Maryam Yahaya, Sani Mu’azu, Sarah Aloysius, and Ishaq Sidi Ishaq.

Nadeeya

Despite not being intended for theatrical release initially, the movie Nadeeya still managed to draw a sizable crowd when it was shown on the big screens. The film is a drama with a strong theme regarding “upbringing.” It illustrates the spoiled upbringing of some parents’ children, mainly their daughters, and these kids’ everyday struggles. The Plot revolves around a lousy daughter named Nadeeya (played by Rahama Sadau), who experiences life’s difficulties after marriage.

The movie is profound and hard-hitting. It demonstrates that a child’s early learning occurs at home and that their upbringing greatly influences their values and personalities. The actors gave a strong performance. Yaseen Auwal was the director, while Rahama Sadau, the principal actress, produced it. Umar M. Shareef, Rabi’u Rikadawa, Asma’u Sani, and others are on the other cast.

Fati

According to rumors, this movie offers a unique approach to the narrative for Kannywood. It narrates the tale of a bipolar Umar (Umar M. Sharif) participating in a medical study for mental health. He’s in a relationship with Fati (Fatima Kinal), who passes away in the movie’s first frame. He does his best to overcome his shattered heart and forget about her. However, he doesn’t finish college till after that.

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He encounters the same Fati while serving as an NYSC corps member in Jigawa, who, like everyone else there, has no idea who he is. He tries to bring up their former lives, etc., for her. Many viewers dispute the plot idea, saying that it is, at best, confusing and, at worst unbelievable to portray two different yet connected events from Umar’s bipolar state. A portion of the Plot also recalls another movie with a similar cast and production, Hafeez. Bashir Maishadda is the producer, and Kamal S. Alkali is the director.