An afternoon with Ali Nuhu

Abdulkareem Baba Aminu, Bashir Yahuza Malumfashi, Adie Vanessa Offiong & Amina Alhassan What is the situation now in Kannywood, with the new change of government? I must say we are in a state of joy because a lot of things have been put on hold in the last two years. I am sure things will […]

Abdulkareem Baba Aminu, Bashir Yahuza Malumfashi, Adie Vanessa Offiong & Amina Alhassan

What is the situation now in Kannywood, with the new change of government?

I must say we are in a state of joy because a lot of things have been put on hold in the last two years. I am sure things will be better with the new government in place. We know what the new administration expects of us and what pattern they want us to adopt in terms of movie-making.

How challenging has the switch from Kannywood to Nollywood been?

When I started I was expecting to encounter challenges here and there. But I was well accepted when I joined Nollywood. The method of movie-making in Nigeria is the same all over. We are all into home video. The only difference is language and I think any good actor can act in any tongue.

You seem to do a lot of Nollywood-based work these days, maybe even more than Hausa movies…

Maybe not. I’d reckon that Kannywood is about seventy-five percent and Nollywood, twenty-five. I still think I have to contribute my own quota because Kannywood is still in its primary stages. So if I should opt out or just leave Kannywood, I feel it will be disastrous.

Is it true that some of your Hausa fans are not happy with your roles in Nollywood movies?

It is true. But when you make a comparison, the question should be what percentage of your fans want you in Nollywood and what percentage do not want you there. About seventy percent of my fans are okay with my being in Nollywood while thirty are not. But then I also try to make people understand that in Islam, actions are judged according to intentions. So it is not as if what you see me portray in movies is the real Ali Nuhu.

There was a recent publication that you have broken the barrier between Hausa and Indian movies…

I went on holiday and while there I used the opportunity to visit some of their movie sets. I gathered a lot of experiences from interacting with prolific writers, movie directors and actors. Upon my return to Nigeria, I helped Kannywood producer Hajia Aisha who had been trying to produce a movie with some Indian actors. It was shot entirely in Nigeria and I had to speak three different languages, Hausa, English and Hindi. My experience in India groomed me to play the role.

How did you come about learning to speak Hindi?

As a child growing up in the North, Fridays and Saturdays were designated for Indian movies on local TV. Also, cinemas around the town showed them. Over time one began to pick and understand the language. As I grew older, I patronized their movies and had a friend in university who regularly gave me recent productions.

Whenever Nollywood wants to look in the direction of Kannywood, it is most likely you. Don’t you get tired?

In many cases I have had to turn down projects. In the last six months I have not shot any Nollywood movie. I try to take my time. It is not very easy for me and I also think Nollywood needs other Northern actors. There are roles tailor-made for Northern actors but they make do with people who don’t portray the character properly. Again, this could be because they are helpless.

You were spotted talking to Hollywood actors during the AMAA Awards. Anything brewing?

Nothing is brewing. It is common sight to see them at AMAA. But there is nothing. Though I am aspiring, I am also aware of the fact that it takes time because of a number of factors. It is not as if Hollywood producers are unaware of African actors. But the African film industry is not as organised as theirs. You need an agent other things like that. Also the question of accent comes to play and if you are to be part of cast you need to work on the accent. So there are a lot of things that work against us.

Would you allow your kids become actors?

They are already acting and they chose that themselves. They asked me if they could and I explained to them what they were up against, with fans and all. After watching their performances, I think my daughter did a better job of her role than her brother who is younger.

Where ever we go, people keep pointing at her and wanting to take photos and all. During the Children’s Day celebrations her teachers had to call me to come and get them because the other children were all over them. I had warned her that if she became a movie star life in school would be difficult. I think now she is beginning to understand that.

How has being a star affected your private life?

For a movie star I don’t think there is any such thing as private life. I attempted it but at a point people were complaining that I was being too private and should know that I am in the limelight. After a while, I gave up.

What is your typical day like?

When I wake up, after my prayers I have breakfast then go to the gym for about an hour. If I have a production, I attend to it until about 1.30pm when I take a break for lunch until 3.30. I return to set until about 6.30 when I close for the day. When I go back home after Maghreb I go back to the gym for like thirty minutes. I come back home and spend like two hours with my family before we turn in.

Is it true that movie practitioners in Abuja are planning to go back to Kano?

Even after the whole crisis we had I didn’t move from Kano.  I think every government has its mode of operations and if you abide by them you can practice. Most of us are comfortable with their rules and are willing to practice by them.

Did your role in BBC’s ‘Wetin Dey’ have any personal impact on you?

It came and went. Some people see me and tell me I am a wicked man. They say I am heartless and how could I infect my wife with AIDS and not tell her about it, confusing TV with real-life. But I always reply that it is the writers. It is what they wanted us to do.

How do you manage actors when you direct?

They all know they have to behave and be disciplined. That way I don’t have problems with them. It annoys me when actors display arrogance on set. Some of them feel they are better than their producers and directors.

When watching Hausa movies on DSTV, a lot of the translations are wrong. What’s your take on that?

Most of the movies on cable satellite were not originally translated. Some of the cable networks do them and these are being rectified by MOPAN.

Speaking of MOPPAN, what is your impression of Sani Mu’azu’s leadership of that body?

[Sani] Mu’azu is a peace-loving person. I must confess that he did his best and when the issue with the Kano State government was going on, he came in and tried to broker peace. In my opinion, he did his best and actually moved Hausa movies to the next level and made them more acceptable.

Generally, what is your evaluation of Hausa movies, particularly editing?

The standards of present productions are up and a lot of editing issues are being taken care of. You can confirm by making enquiries from the Video Film and Censors Board. Hausa movies are coming of age regarding editing.

What would you be doing if you were not acting?

I would have been doing some ministry work, because I studied geography.