Opinion
What, Exactly, is Kannywood? – Kannywood and Hausa Visual Counterculture
Prof. Abdalla Uba Adamu
I will begin with the end, and in the end, I will end with the beginning.
What is Kannywood?
A Wikipedian provided this perspective: “Kannywood is the sobriquet for Hausa-language cinema. It is a part of the larger Nigerian cinema, known as Nollywood, which includes other production centres producing films in many other Nigerian languages.”
The emphasis, according to this Wikipedian, is on language, and they provided this perspective to distinguish Kannywood from its ‘larger cousin’, Nollywood. This means, whether we like it or not, Kannywood will continuously be seen as part of Nollywood, until we change the narrative ourselves and stopped being awed by an industry that is definitely junior to our own. Let me share a personal experience.
I was privileged to be a Zuma Film Festival Jury in its 2010 edition, as well as the paper presenter. I was the only northerner in the Jury, but not the only Hausa. The team was led by Rahmatou Keïta a Nigeriène Hausa journalist and filmmaker based in Paris. Films were submitted from all over the world, including many from Kannywood, and of course, Nollywood. We sat down over croissants and coffee to decide the approach we should adopt in awarding categories to the films.
Right there and then it was decided that there was no way any Kannywood film will win the ‘Best’ of the categories – Picture, Actor, Actress, Script, Cinematography, etc. I argued that if we went by this reasoning—for which there was no rational basis—that would exclude indigenous language films from getting recognition, including those from Nollywood not in English language. A lot of arguments ensured about production values, storylines, meeting the Zuma Festival submission requirements, etc.
In the end, after two hours of back and forth, I was asked to suggest a category in which all local language films would fit in, even if from Nollywood. I suggested Indigenous Film category. This was accepted. If it was any consolation, foreign film entries were also lumped into “Best Foreign Film”. Meaning that ONLY Nollywood films will get all the glory of being the Best of the best in everything. Thus, for the Nigerian Film Corporation, Kannywood is just a subset of Nollywood. Begging the question, What is Kannywood?
The least NFC can do is to reimagine the festival according to film cultures. Let us say, for the sake of the argument, NFC recognizes Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo film cultures. A separate festival can be held for each of these cultures celebrating their ‘Best’ actors, actresses, cinematography, script, etc. As it is now, no matter how excellent, for instance, a Hausa actor is (or think he is), he will never be ‘Best Actor’ in the NFC festival. And good luck to him attempting to be the Best Actor in a ‘mainstream’ Nollywood film in which he merely appears as a token Aboki to attract audiences to a Nollywood film.
Now, let me address the other variable in this post. “Counterculture” refers to a cultural group whose values, norms, and practices are significantly different from and often in opposition to those of the mainstream society. These groups often challenge established societal norms and advocate for alternative lifestyles or beliefs. Counterculture is expressed in various forms, including popular culture.
Counterculture became critical in contemporary Hausa media anthropology because of the rapid rise and adoption of visual technologies through social media by Hausa youth of all shades—male, female and often transitioning or LGBT+. The visibility in social media provides Hausa youth with a paradoxical cloak of invisibility, in what I refer to as ‘invisible visibilities.’ They visually, boldly and unapologetically appear brash, aggressive, suggestive, sexual, assertive and insouciant. For the most part, we don’t know who they are, despite seeing them and applauding, hailing, hating or cursing them.
The rise and popularity of social media provided Hausa youth with a perfect visual counterculture template. Crude at the beginning, but getting sophisticated as time flies. Initially restricting themselves to the ‘big’ social media – YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat—the arrival of more flexible platforms, mainly TikTok, Reels, gave the freedom to let loose creative energies.
YouTube provided the first explicit platform. It led to the emergence of what I call ‘Hausa Adult Influencers’ They included Muneerat Abdulsalam, Yasmin Harka, Laure Jibiya, Ummi Zandar, Tani Harka 24, etc. They dispense raw explicit advice on heterosexual adult relationships; Laure Jibiya, possibly a pseudonym, was the only one who dispenses her advice from an Arabian face veil, making it difficult to identify her. Ummi Zinder uses a name that has possible connotation to nudity: Hausa zindir; but could also be a referent to Zinder, the Nigeriène city, locally called Damagaram. Falmati Chadi, again like others, without any other traceable history, would appear to come from Chad Republic.
Obviously, each approaches her broadcast—all in the Hausa language—with a script, a production schedule, and a series of technical and editing equipment, all put together by a person who acts as a director. The large numbers of views generated by these channels are completed by internet bots that rip the audios from the videos and make it easy for users to download the voices without having to log on to the video channel – which saves data, and at the same time, enable clandestine engagement with the contents of the channels without the videos.
Of course, they are countless other Hausa-centric YouTube uploads—ranging from music, to short films and comedy skits. Some audaciously affix ‘Kannywood’ to their channels—which is okay since no one owns ‘Kannywood’ as a label for anything. Are these YouTube uploads ‘films?’ Can they be referred to as Kannywood, even if they are NOT necessarily based in Kano or aimed specifically at the markets in Kano?
Enter TikTok and Reels. Millions of videos. Short attention-grabbing dialogues. Some with structured scripts and actors, shooting schedule, clear effective direction and editing, And messages; for it is not all pearls of fun and laughter.
Take Dan Bello. A professional cinematographer and scriptwriter. With world class video and editing equipment, storyline, excellent editing. With script no Hausa filmmaker dare to write or visualize: a critique of society and governance. A 30-second script unraveling over 30 years of spiral corruption and misgovernance. Are we still in Kannywood?
What of Yagamen? Or Murja Ibrahim Kunya. Love her. Hate her. You can’t ignore her. That’s for sure. Capable of evoking almost all emotional ranges: amusement, annoyance, irritation, exasperation, pity, adoration in virtual stand-up monologues. She expresses her thoughts explicitly and does not care whose ox is gored. She has made several allusions to being ‘Kannywood’. Cultural Kannywood will dispute this membership of their hallowed cult. So where do you put Eddie Murphy, Richard Prior, Tracy Morgan, Jamie Foxx, Whoopi Goldberg and other comedians who became some of the biggest names in Hollywood?
And G-Fresh Al-Amin. An excellent rapper whom I mentored once (listen to his ‘Kano to California Remix’). Can he lay claim to Kannywood? Or Hassan Makeup, Sadiqa (previously known as Sadiq) and other influencers with alternative sexualities. Daring to boldly go where no Kannywood producer will dare to go. I know. Purist will claim these are not Kannywood. These social media Hausa alterities lay claim to Kannywood – only that they provide a countercultural narrative. Each skit, monologue provides a story, completing with a marketing structure; for the money is made in the AdSense clicks some have activated. Bringing in few dollars. And no censorship.
If we debunk Hausa counterculture alterities as not being serious, not being ‘films’ in the accepted sense (whose accepted sense?) then how do we explain cinéma vérité? If you have a strong stance on a political or social issue, cinéma vérité is a vehicle to express and defend your opinions. All the Hausa counterculture videographers can be lumped as cinéma vérité—a perfectly valid form of cinematic expression. It combines improvisation with use of the camera to unveil truth or highlight subjects hidden behind reality.
This, of course, excluded religious or journalistic social media as these are focused on a particular topic often in a didactic and linear fashion. Counterculture social media is about rebellion to the established public culture, or teasing out things public culture would rather hide or gloss over in a ‘conventional’ cinematic expression.
TikTokers Khadijah Ibraheem and Anti Hussaina use this technique to criticize—as well as appreciate—boys (“kai, guy ɗin nan ya sha wanka”). And in case you label them something else for expression their frank views, they do so in full Muslim hijab, and all clean dialogue. Not a single swear or foul word. Contrast their dialogue with Murja Ibrahim Kunya – all about female sexuality, but in different delivery modes. Aminu J and Abis Fulani provide critical commentaries on news events. Bilal Villa is transnational in using local resident Lebanese in his dialogues, giving a unique dimension to commentary on Kano society. Still not Kannywood? How about this, then.
One of the craziest aspects of Kano is that even people with clearly mental health issues become celebrities in a process the literature refers to Celebrification. The last three years saw the emergence of Ale (a Kano specific corruption of the word, Alhaji) Rufa’i Bulgates (another corruption, of Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft), the man who created new virtual currencies, ‘Gangalion’ and ‘Americallion’. He uses this currency to buy whole countries. His relatives reported his skit makers to the police and an order was issued banning making any videos of him taking advantage of his gullibility. They started regretting it later, because….
…no sooner had he disappeared from the scene, than another one emerged. Ale Umar Bush. A load-carrier in the Kwanar Singer segment of the Kano Sabon Gari Market. In a short period of time, he became stupendously rich because the way he amuses people with incredibly horrible foul language. I guarantee you, no language provides the most disgusting foul abuses like the Hausa language. This guy knew them all and utters them with relish and stern face. Like a circus performer, he gets invited to meet important people and foreigners, including Arabs and Indians, to be feted for their amusement, with videos taken and sent to their countries: “hey, look, a crazy African.” I once flew in the same plane with him to Abuja where he was invited to provide amusement to people who are presumably mentally healthy, but enjoy teasing a mental patient. Like kids holding a hapless insect in their hands and getting amused at ripping off each of its wings.
Now, he is a film star. Yes, he has just starred in his first 12-minute film, “Sallah Ram Deal in Kano”. It was produced by Abdulgafar Ahmad Oluwatoyin, aka Cuteabiola, a Nollywood comedian, who starred in it. Someone has found a way of weaving a script around a foul-mouthed mental patient and creating amusement for non-mental health people. Cute Abiola himself posted the story on his Facebook timeline. It generated 471 comments, hugely appreciative of this new dimension of Northern Nollywood, and 272 shares. Are we still in Kannywood?
Over the last five years, social media has enabled the creation of Hausa countercultural microcinema—short films, often created with low budgets and minimal equipment, which is a good fit for the brief, often amateur or semi-professional nature of social media videos—and cinéma verité that provide a countercultural narrative to life in both urban and rural Hausa societies. Cinema is multifaceted medium that combines art, technology, and industry to create and share moving images, offering a powerful means of storytelling and cultural expression. Nothing says how long it has to be. Or how expert the cinema maker has to be.
The whole point of my argument is that Hausa social media counterculture skitters, shorties, documentaries, comedies, the whole ball of wax, are increasingly claiming they are also Kannywood. The non-counterculture Kannywood leadership on the other hand struggle hard to create a dividing line. They faced this with the Hiyana incidence in 2007 where virtually every actress is seen as a Hiyana, derailing the image of Kannywood.
I will end with the beginning.
What, exactly, is Kannywood?
Adamu is a Professor of Media and Cultural Studies at Bayero University, Kano. This was first published on his Facebook account.
By Saleh Adamu Kwaru, MIBF, MBA, CNA, FCCSA-USA
Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, often experiences a noticeable slowdown in economic activities during the first quarter (Q1) of each year. This phenomenon, observed consistently over the past decade, raises important questions about the underlying causes and implications. The slowdown affects various sectors of the economy, from agriculture and manufacturing to services and retail, impacting growth rates and economic stability. Understanding the reasons behind this seasonal dip is crucial for developing strategies to mitigate its effects and ensure sustained economic progress throughout the year. Consequently, this exploration is aimed at only uncovering the key factors contributing to the Q1 economic slowdown in Nigeria.
Government Fiscal Year-End
The Nigerian government operates on a calendar fiscal year, meaning that the budget cycle ends in December. Ministries, departments, and agencies rush to utilize their allocated funds before the end of the year, often leading to a spike in government spending in Q4. Consequently, there’s a lull in spending in Q1 as new budgets are prepared and approved. This delay in government expenditure impacts overall economic activity.
Consumer Spending Patterns
The holiday season in Q4, including Christmas and New Year celebrations, leads to a surge in consumer spending on goods and services. This increased spending includes purchases of food, clothing, gifts, travel, and entertainment. After the holiday season, consumers tend to reduce their spending to recover financially, leading to a slowdown in economic activity in Q1.
Agricultural Cycle
Agriculture plays a significant role in Nigeria’s economy. The peak harvest season occurs in Q4, providing increased agricultural output and income for farmers. Following the harvest, the agricultural sector slows down as farmers focus on land preparation in last stage of Q1. This seasonal cycle results in reduced agricultural productivity and economic contribution during the first quarter.
Oil Sector Dynamics
Nigeria’s economy is heavily reliant on the oil sector. Fluctuations in global oil prices and production levels can impact the economy significantly. The oil industry may experience variations in output and revenue due to maintenance schedules, regulatory changes, or geopolitical factors. These variations can influence economic performance in Q1.
Business Planning and Activities
Many businesses undertake strategic planning, inventory management, and budget reviews at the beginning of the year. This period is often used for setting goals, assessing performance, and making adjustments. As a result, business activities may slow down temporarily while companies align their operations and strategies for the new year.
External Factors
Global economic conditions, trade relations, and geopolitical events can also affect Nigeria’s economy. External shocks, such as changes in commodity prices, exchange rates, or international trade policies, can influence economic performance. Additionally, any significant global events or crises may have spillover effects on Nigeria’s economy, impacting Q1 performance.
Sectoral Contributions
Key sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and services may experience seasonal variations in output and demand. For example, construction activities may slow down during certain weather conditions, while the service sector may see reduced demand for tourism-related services post-holiday season.
Policy and Reform Implementation
Government policies and economic reforms often take time to implement and yield results. Initiatives aimed at diversifying the economy, improving. infrastructure, or enhancing business environments may face initial delays and challenges. The impact of these policies may not be immediately visible in Q1, contributing to slower economic growth.
Tackling these issues demands a holistic strategy, which involves diversifying the economy, encouraging sustainable agricultural methods, improving fiscal planning and management, and enacting policies that ensure steady economic activity throughout the year. Indeed, by understanding and mitigating the reasons for the Q1 economic slowdown, Nigeria can build a more resilient and dynamic economy that prospers throughout the year.
Saleh Adamu Kwaru,
Is a retired staff of Central Bank of Nigeria.
By Engr. H.Y. Sa’id
Nura Zakaria Gwarzo, a prominent politician and businessman, has been a pillar of strength and inspiration to many in his community. Despite being a sickle cell patient, Nura has always defied the odds, living a life filled with purpose, passion, and philanthropy. His infectious smile and unwavering optimism have touched countless lives, earning him a reputation as a kind-hearted and generous individual.
Nura’s Philanthropic Efforts
Nura’s commitment to giving back to his community is evident in his numerous philanthropic endeavors. He has sponsored the medical treatment of several individuals, including a relative who received treatment for over a year at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH). He also facilitated the emergency medical evacuation of another person to Egypt for urgent medical attention. These selfless acts of kindness have made a significant impact on the lives of those he has helped.
A Desperate Cry for Help
Tragically, Nura’s own health has taken a drastic turn. He has been bedridden for almost a year, battling a series of debilitating health challenges. His struggles began with anemia, which required him to undergo multiple blood transfusions, receiving over 13 pints of blood in a single month. Further complications led to the diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis, a bacterial infection of the bone, which necessitated a series of surgeries.
The medical journey has been arduous, with Nura undergoing multiple surgeries, including a successful sequesterectomy to remove the infected bone tissue. However, his recovery was short-lived, as he suffered a devastating setback when he broke his femur bone while trying to remove his shirt due to the sweltering heat. The hospital, plagued by power outages due to unpaid debts to the electricity provider, Kedco, was unable to provide adequate care, exacerbating Nura’s condition.
A Heartbreaking Reality
The cumulative effect of these medical expenses has been crippling, leaving Nura and his family financially drained. Despite his bravery and resilience, Nura’s health continues to deteriorate, and his family is struggling to make ends meet. It is heartbreaking to see this once-vibrant individual, who has always been there for others, now in desperate need of our help.
A Call to Action
We urge everyone to come together and support Nura in his time of need. Your donations, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in his recovery. We appeal to your sense of compassion, kindness, and generosity to help save Nura’s life.
Let us rally around Nura and his family, providing them with the support and care they need during this challenging time. Together, we can make a difference and help Nura overcome his health struggles.
Please donate generously to support Nura’s medical treatment. Your contribution can help save his life.
Account details:
Nura Zakari Gwarzo GTBank Account Number: 0020227626
Let us come together to show our support for Nura Zakaria Gwarzo. Every donation counts, and every prayer matters.
By Jameel Ahmed, PhD
It is both laughable and annoying how some few individuals think that His Excellency Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, former Jigawa State Governor and current minister of Defence, is losing relevance in the politics of the state or that his influence and grip on the All Progressives Congress (APC) is waning. Having this insinuation is akin to thinking that a mountain can crumble by a mere hit of a worn-out hammer.
How would you, as a sane person, surmise that a figure as influential and powerful as Badaru can lose relevance in the politics of Jigawa State! As a two-term Jigawa Governor, Badaru not only redefined the politics of the state but also gave essence to governance, transforming it from a mundane routine to a purpose-driven and promising endeavour that truly served the people. Astute and empathetic that he was (and still is), he enlivened the spirit of the poor by taking social amenities to them, thereby placing the state on a promising trajectory of sustainable development.
In what appeared to be a digression from what most politicians considered as norm, Badaru, on assumption of office, vowed to complete the projects initiated by his predecessor. And in a manner that symbolised “walking the talk”, he completed all the projects and initiated others and saw them to the finishing line before the expiration of his tenure. When many would luxuriate on the laps of power and get intoxicated by its grandeur, my Boss remained focus, determined and committed to the welfare of the good people of Jigawa State.
As his loyalist and staunch supporter, one of the numerous lessons I have learnt from him is that of speaking less but doing much. When he promises, rest assured that he has it all planned and that he will fulfill the promise. But here, one wouldn’t deny the fallibility of humans, after all it is an inherent ‘trait’ created in man. But comparatively speaking, Badaru has, as a Governor, proven his worth, and still doing ditto as Nigeria’s Minister of Defence. We are all living witnesses to how he is straining his nerves in securing the country and giving hopes to Nigerians.
His government, all-inclusive that it was, also carried the youths along. It was during his days as the number of citizen of Jigawa that the state witnessed a sharp shift from the approach of having the elderly people taking the centre stage and dominating key positions in government. One wouldn’t err to say that Badaru was the first governor in Nigeria to have given special recognition to the youths. From graciously approving key appointments to the youths, he unprecedentedly paved way for them to contest and win chairmanship election across the local government areas of the state.
He believed that by bringing fresh energy into the system of governance, more innovative solutions, creative ideas and effective policies could be harnessed to drive meaningful change and positive development to the good people of the state. And he was right! The youngsters he drew closer to him and availed opportunities to them didn’t disappoint him. For example, the council chairmen that served during his time had all done wonderfully well as they executed key projects that are critical to the development of their respective local government areas.
But alas, their tenures were cut short with the coming of the present Governor who, ironically, was also a protégé of Badaru. After making him a Commissioner and a member of the state executive council, Badaru later chose Umar Namadi to be his running mate during the time he sought reelection. Badaru, unlike many other governors who wouldn’t allow their deputies to do well lest they become strong and powerful, gave all he could to Namadi, extending every favour to him.
Badaru didn’t stop at that, he went further to clear the grounds for Namadi to succeed him, a rare privilege only few can extend to their deputies. He anointed him, stood by his side and gave his all to ensure his (Namadi’s) success at the poll. Every observer and keen follower of political happenings in Jigawa, if they’re sincere, would tell you that the contest, even at the primaries, was a heated one as there were many aspirants eyeing the exalted governorship seat. But with Badaru’s help, Namadi was able to scale through, even when a section of the state’s population was having misgivings about his competence and capacity to deliver.
And that was how the current governor came to be in the position he occupies now. But in a bizarre turn of events, those close to him began to disparage his predecessor, falsely accusing him of not providing adequate support for the current governor. But this is a baseless accusation and a wanton lie; a delusional statement only an ingrate person with myopic mind could make. As a political gladiator and leader of the APC in the state, Badaru could have anointed another person if he had wished, but he chose to repose his trust on Namadi.
Therefore, to think that Baba Badaru’s influence is waning in the politics of Jigawa state is both absurd and naive. He has built a lasting legacy and a strong network of supporters who are still committed to his ideals and steadfast in their allegiance to him. For the records, the three former council Chairmen (namely, Musa Shu’aibu Guri, Abdulkadir Bala Umar T.O., and Uzairu Nadabo) who served during Badaru and recently appointed by governor Namadi were never staunch loyalists of the Defence Minister, neither are they die-hard APC members. They are only political renegades who defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC for selfish reasons.
Badaru’s support-base, his relevance and influence in the political space of Jigawa State are still intact. The appointment of the three former council Chairmen as Special Advisers to the current governor did not and will not affect Badaru’s influence. These are people who severed ties with Badaru immediately after he left office and never visited him even after his ministerial appointment. How then can one with a clear mind suggest that their appointment as Special Advisers by the current governor would erode the relevance and wane the influence of His Excellency Muhammad Badaru Abubakar?
Baba Badaru is still Jigawa’s political father and the state’s APC leader whose influence is as formidable as it is far-reaching. He brought APC to the state, nursed and nurtured it to a promising height that shaped the political landscape of the state and sheltered the good people of Jigawa. We are with him. Our allegiance is still intact. So is that of the remaining 21 former council Chairmen whose tenures were cut short at a time when they were executing impactful projects to their people, following the footsteps of our hero, a beacon of hope and an astute leader whose political sagacity is the envy of many. More wisdom to you, His Excellency Muhammad Badaru Abubakar!
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