Being a film producer will take nothing from my music career -Nazifi Asnanic

Mine was quite different from others; I started as a song writer. I will write songs for others to sing. And even at that, most of the songs I wrote were Islamic songs. With time I figured out that I have something to offer beyond mere writing. That was the genesis of what you may […]

Mine was quite different from others; I started as a song writer. I will write songs for others to sing. And even at that, most of the songs I wrote were Islamic songs. With time I figured out that I have something to offer beyond mere writing. That was the genesis of what you may call my becoming a Hausa musician. People believe I can do it

and ever since it has been music and things associated with it.

The PDP song “Kwankwaso Dawo” that hit the political arena in 2011 became quite popular. Are you a member of that party?

I am a musician who earns a living through music I work with the movie industry, I do political songs and also I sing for individuals. Kwankwaso Dawo was a political song just like many songs I have sang before. I was contacted on the issue and asked if I can produce a song like that, I told them yes I can do it so I went to my studio and came out with it. Fortunately, it became one of the best political songs at that time. But that did not make me a member of that party, I have sang for most of the political parties in Northern Nigeria, does that make me a member? Absolutely not. It is my job and I believe I have done it according to the dictates of what we agreed on that is all.

It was rumored that you were rewarded handsomely with cash and a car; can we say congratulations to that?

Actually, ever since the release of the song I have been receiving calls from close friends asking me to play safe now that I am a millionaire. I got to know that there are rumours around town that I was given millions of Naira and cars to complement it. When I tried to explain to people the truth, no one seems to believe me. Let me state here categorically, the actual truth of the matter is apart from what we have agreed as a fee for that song, nothing; I repeat nothing has come my way on “Kwankwaso Dawo” song as is being insinuated. I have produced the song and the song became one of the best, that alone is a plus to me, I thank God for that.

Many have the view that you are one of the most successful musicians in the industry and now you have moved to become a movie producer, does that mean you have said bye to music?

No! Not at all. As a contemporary Hausa musician, this automatically qualifies me to be part of the movie industry. I have been having this interest for long but the opportunity did not come till recent. I have wanted to expand my horizons in the industry so I waited for the right time to come and when it did, I just grabbed it, simply because I possessed all it takes to be a producer and I have been producing movies that have shaped the perceptions of many individuals in the industry; right now I am at the verge of completing my film Dan Marayan Zaki. However, being a musician will not stop me from being a film producer likewise being a producer will not stop me from being a musician. The interest in becoming a producer was not conceived over night. I have been having the interest of diversifying my horizons in the industry and that I am glad to state here has been very rewarding indeed.

There was a move recently by some musicians to form an association that will oversee the activities of musicians in the state. Do you subscribe to that idea?

Of course, I do. If bringing that association into being will ensure unity among us. I strongly believe that with a unified association we will be able to achieve a lot of good things. But in associations, there is definitely going to be clashes of interests as it comprises different people with different minds and sometimes, this results into the failure of such associations. We have seen it before, different associations failed for the same reasons, I hope this one will weather the storms.

 

What is your advice to upcoming musicians in the industry?

I want to appeal not only to upcoming musicians but to all of us in the music industry, to uphold the virtues of good songs and also protect the dignity of the profession by making good and qualitative music. Only through that can we preserve our trade and uphold its good virtues in the eyes of the people.