After being ‘hot’ post-independence…Cinema culture’s slow, painful death in Arewa
The films used to have great impact on the lives of film-goers as people can spend several days narrating episodic strands of particular films. The scenes were so arranged that interest of audience were captivated throughout with various techniques such as flash back, comic relief and suspense. Apart from entertainment, they somewhat educate people. But […]
The films used to have great impact on the lives of film-goers as people can spend several days narrating episodic strands of particular films. The scenes were so arranged that interest of audience were captivated throughout with various techniques such as flash back, comic relief and suspense. Apart from entertainment, they somewhat educate people. But cinema culture began to wane in the 70s to 80s, and the business seems to have died, after bravely gasping for many years after the introduction of Nigerian movies on more convenient video format. Nollywood and Kannywood blossomed over the years, churning out films that directly project the region’s lifestyle, culture as well as issues and problems affecting the society.
Eldorado Cinema is one of the oldest cinema houses in Kano but has now been reduced to a shadow of its former self. Alhaji Uba Sani, 65, who used to go to the cinema 45 years ago, said any right-thinking person cannot go to a cinema house now, because it has been overtaken by dubious elements of the society. “In those days, even seats were demarcated between much older ones and the lads and those who smoke cigarettes had to enter toilet to smoke.” Sani said he doesn’t expect responsible people to visit cinema houses anymore.
In his own view, Sabo Yusuf attributed the decline of cinema-going to influx of western culture in Indian films which he said discourage people. But Malam Umaru of Brigade area in Kano said the advent of videos, CDs and satellite dishes are the main reason people stopped going to cinema houses. He said people can have all these facilities in their bedrooms and that there is no need for them go out. He said though cinema houses serve as relaxation spots, people would continue to distance themselves from them unless they are sanitized.
Like in Kano, cinema culture also appears to be dead in Kaduna State. Out of 11 cinemas in the state, in Kaduna and the ancient city of Zaria, more than half have packed up. In Kaduna metropolis, there were six popular cinemas namely Rex, Radar, Royal, Arewa, Scala and Tudun Wada cinemas. While Scala and Tudun Wada cinemas have been demolished and residential apartments built on the land, Royal Cinema on its side has been converted to a church.
When Weekly Trust went to one of the cinemas last Wednesday, youngsters were seeing smoking Indian hemp in the open. “It is the only place you smoke without anybody harassing you. I come here because of Indian hemp, not Indian films,” a patron told our correspondent between long drags.
Mohammed Tukur, 52, of Tudun Wada, said the introduction of Sharia in some northern states created apathy for the cinema industry. “In the 70s and 80s we were going but I stopped when my children started going but the introduction of Sharia killed the Tudun Wada cinema,” he said, adding that the aim of establishing the cinemas in the north has been defeated because it has turned to a place where miscreants go to relax.
But Danfulani Bello, 55, a regular patron of Rex Cinema near Kaduna Central Market faulted Tukur as he said the cinema house is a place where people of like minds unwind. “I own a DVD player yet I frequent Rex because I’m addicted to it,” he said.
A staff of Plateau Cinema Limited, managers of the Rex and Radar cinemas, Mr. Donatus Izundu said the downward side of the cinema industry was as result of the advent of cable TV, CDs, and DVDs. “The industry is collapsing and if care is not taken, we will not have cinema houses in the state again, because the owner of Rex in Kaduna is threatening to sell. If he does, it would be like Scala and Tudun Wada cinemas, all gone.” He said they are operating at loss now because of low turnout. He said the negative perception of patrons and security situations in the country also contribute to the decline.
In Zaria, out of the five existing cinemas, two were closed down by the owners, Plateau Cinema Company Ltd. The decline in the cinema industry in the ancient city of Zaria was largely responsible for the closure of the two cinema houses. The five are Paradise Cinema inside the ancient city, Albarka Cinema in Tudun Wada, Rex in Sabon Gari, Independent in Samaru and Sabon Gari.
A Cinema Engineer, Mallam Sanusi Tajudeen, who has been in the business for the past thirty years, told Weekly Trust in Tudun Wada, Zaria that very soon the once-prominent cinema industry will become history in Nigeria, especially in the north. “In the early 70s and late 80s cinema business was a serious business. Now, it is on a good day that you have 30 to 40 people coming to watch a film. Everything has collapsed. I think it is part of the reason why the owners decide to close down some of the cinemas.”
Our investigation revealed that owners of cinema houses have made attempted to diversify the kinds of films they feature. Efforts were made to shift from featuring Indian, American or Chinese films to showing football. “That did not succeed because our cinemas are open cinemas,” Mallam Tajudeen said. “Football matches are usually played in the daytime. You can’t operate an open cinema during the day. That was what affected the idea of featuring football.”
Weekly Trust also found that owners are not the only people affected, as even traders around the cinema houses are also touched by the collapse. Mallam Dan’asabe Mai Tsire is a suya seller who has been beside Independent Cinema in Sabon Gari, Zaria. He said the collapse of the cinema industry was a serious blow on his business.
In Plateau State, like elsewhere across the North, cinema house businesses have nose-dived. In Jos, they include the Rex, Scala, Kwararafa, New Era and Ambassador. While others are barely functional, Scala has ceased to exist. Chima Iroha, who enjoyed visiting the cinema in the 80s and late 90s recalled with nostalgia the good old days of movie-going in Jos. According to him: “Gone are the days when people turn to cinema to enjoy an evening. The level of technology now provides different outlets where people now source for films in the comfort of their homes.”