A recent comment by a veteran Kannywood actress Ladin Chima known as Tambaya has begun to change the narratives in the Hausa film industry. The Kano-based Hausa actress who spent close to five decades entertaining and educating Hausa television viewers as part of her age-long contributions to the development of Hausa drama, culture and the language has been one of the few female actresses whose names has become synonymous with Kannywood.
However, the revelation by the actress when she featured in a recent BBC Hausa Service programme “Daga Bakin Mai Ita” that she used to be paid a meager amount ranging from N2,000 to N5,000 for every movie she featured has sparked serious controversy from both actors and producers.
Not only that, she said despite her experience and expertise, she has never been paid N50,000 or something there about in any movie she featured in as an actress.
Stakeholders who reacted to Chima’s revelations either as a group or individuals attached different interpretations to the veteran actress’s claim. Indeed, the retired hospital matron’s revelations have triggered a serious debate, accusations and counter accusations within and outside the industry. Whatever anyone would say, one thing is however certain, the debate has only confirmed Ladi’s claims.
The matter has set the social media on fire as Kannywood is divided between those supporting her claims and those against it. Ali Nuhu, Falalu Dorayi, Naburaska and others faulted the actress’s claims
Ali Nuhu, Falalu Dorayi tackle actress
Immediately the veteran actress interview went viral, popular Kannywood actors such as Ali Nuhu, Falalu Dorayi and many others took to their social media handles to dispute the actress’ claims citing several instances where they said they gave the actress huge amounts of money. Artists like Mustapha Naburaska, Fati Slow, Nuhu Abdullahi, were among those who supported Ali Nuhu’s stand.
Similarly, scriptwriter, Nazir Salihi also claimed that on several occasions he had paid the actress for her acting services, apart from the N40,000 and N30,000 paid to her consecutively for featuring twice in the comedy series titled Gidan Badamasi. He said there was a time when actress Hadiza Gabon gave her a cash gift of N270,000.
Sarkin Waka corroborates actress’s claim
However, prominent Hausa singer Naziru Ahmad Sarkin Waka came out to corroborate the actress’s claim, telling Ali Nuhu and Falalu Dorayi to say the truth and shame the devil. He revealed that some younger ladies in Kannywood have to offer their bodies to get roles. Like Ladi, Ahmad’s remarks again generated more heat than that of the actress’.
But Naziru is unperturbed about the reactions that have trailed his siding with Ladi. Naziru said if anybody feels otherwise over what he said, what he knows is that he was only saying his mind and what he believes is the truth.
Naziru donates N3 million to veteran actresses
Naziru did not stop at supporting the claims of Tambaya. He has gone further to offer N2 million to Mama Tambaya to start up a business and be able to pick some of her bills. He announced his offer in his verified facebook six minutes video. Again, this particular Naziru’s gesture has elicited both positive and negative comments. Some commended the Hausa musician, while others described his donation as a ‘pure eye service’ and that he wanted to use it to gain cheap popularity. The singer also donated N1 million to Fati Slow who criticised him.
Controversy deepens in Kannywood
In a recent social media post in response to Naziru’s, Nuhu Abdullahi told Sarkin Waka to “Call your brother to order (referring to Aminu Saira) first, because Saira is the biggest cheat in the industry. Perhaps this comment may not be unconnected with Ali Nuhu’s removal from the cast of the TV series Labarina produced by Aminu Saira.
However, another Hausa actor Ali Artwork popularly known as Madagwal also posted a video exposing how Ali Nuhu cheated him by refusing to pay him his money as well as the reasons behind his removal from the casts in Gidan Badamasi TV series.
Ali Artwork said it is unfortunate actors in Kannywood has failed to understand that humanity is far better than the industry. He said in his post that there are many people who have been cheated in one way or the other and that what Ladi said was just a case out of many.
Kannywood needs reform – Former artist
The controversy generated by Ladi would not be the first time Kannywood would be thrown into crisis. There have been stories of sex- for- roles between producers and actresses, but the one that really shook the Hausa film industry was the sex scandal involving a prominent actress Maryam Hiyana in 2007.
It was in view of all these that Saleh Kambiri, a retired actor has called for a wholistic law that would reform the Kannywood
Kambiri recalled that Kannywood started as an informal entity and the only formal approach to the industry was the establishment of the Kano State Censors Board law of 2001.
But the law only centred on the conduct of the film making concept, failing to accommodate vital issues such as remuneration, legal, marketing and sales, among other related issues.
He said from inception, participants began earning under the per scene arrangements where artists get paid based on the number of scenes they appeared in a single film. He added that during the pay per scene era, only big names in the industry earned N500 per scene while the rest earned far less than that.
Kambiri said since there have been no effort to improve on the various aspects of the industry, it has been existing on that informal basis, the reason why many actors and actresses such as Ladi were earning what peanuts which is not far from the truth.
Controversy reflects global trend – Expert
A Plateau State-based movie analyst, Mr Macham Aboki, said what is currently happening in Kannywood is not a new thing in the global film industry where operations are based on informal settings. He revealed that a similar incident had happened to Thailand film industry in 2009 before the Thailand government came in to formalize the processes.
He explained that Chima was so brave to come up with the revelation as there are hundreds of her likes in the industry, adding that the fault isn’t from those paying but from those to get paid as they should be told what they will be paid before agreeing to act.
Aboki said the reason behind the huge quest for every artist to become a producer is what is being presently discussed in Kannywood.
Despite the heat generated by Ladi’s, claim Kannywood stakeholders have remained silent as no one is taking up the gauntlet to raise it for discussion and from there probably find a solution to it.
The Chairman, Kannywood Actors Guild Alhassan Kwalle could not be reached to speak on what it is doing toi address the matter.
However, the Motion Pictures Producers Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN) on Monday with the Kannywood Women Association of Nigeria (K-WAN) and Naziru M. Ahmad over allegations of sexual exploitation.
The national leader of MOPPAN, Dr Ahmad Sarari, called for the emergency meeting on Monday in Kano to reconcile the two parties before the issue escalated to something worrisome.
K-WAN has reportedly handed Sarkin Waka a three-day ultimatum to apologise to women in Kannywood or face legal action over allegations of defamation of character against them.
