Fati Adam Abubakar: From nurse to actress

Weekend Magazine: How did you start acting? Fati Adam Abubakar:  My interest in acting started from childhood. I have always had inclination for four things namely – acting, tailoring, nursing and the military. The love for these four professions has been deeply seated in me since I was a child. Back then, I would gather […]

Weekend Magazine: How did you start acting?

Fati Adam Abubakar:  My interest in acting started from childhood. I have always had inclination for four things namely – acting, tailoring, nursing and the military. The love for these four professions has been deeply seated in me since I was a child. Back then, I would gather my younger siblings and act drama for them. Sometimes someone would be recording and at other times I would just stand in front of a mirror and act.  I can tell you that out of these four things I have achieved three. Presently, I can sew clothes; I am working with the Murtala Muhammed Hospital, though not as a nurse or a medical officer, and I am also an actress, so you see it’s just the military that is remaining.

Owing to my interest in acting, I had always longed for an opportunity to get connected to someone in the industry. Initially my efforts were scuttled but because I believe that in life nothing good comes easy, I didn’t relent.  However, one day, a colleague of mine at the Murtala Muhammed Hospital gave me the chance to penetrate the industry in my first movie ‘Kuyanga.’ I featured as a wife to the king. That was my first movie appearance.

WM: How did you feel on your first outing?

Fati: I didn’t do any rehearsals, mind you, but like I told you earlier, I used to gather my siblings and act for them. So when I was given the script, though I didn’t undergo normal pre-production process of rehearsals I was not scared. I didn’t show any sign of timidity or being jittery on stage and the directors were very impressed with my performance.

WM: Did you experience any form of resistance from your family on your decision to join Kannywood?

Fati: I didn’t seek anybody’s consent before I joined the industry. They only saw me on screen and both my maternal and paternal relatives were very impressed. Similarly, my aunts and uncles in Riyad, Saudi Arabia, call from time to time to appreciate my exploits in the film industry. None has ever challenged me over my acting career.

WM: Do you experience any difference acting in Kannywood and the TV series at Arewa24?

Fati: I didn’t notice any difference except for the fact that the directors at Arewa24 are a bit more flexible and friendly to artistes. I am not implying that the directors in Kannywood are harsh, but you know you have to judge based on what you are more familiar with.

WM: Are there some kind of roles you prefer?

Fati: It depends on the story line, but if asked to make a choice, I would pick valiant roles or a role where I will fight with a rival in a polygamous family set up.

WM: Have you ever been treated well, or harshly, because of a role you played?

Fati: It is common for people to look at you vis-a-vis the role you played in a film but most often when people get closer to you they understand that you are an entirely different person. I may quarrel in a film but that doesn’t mean I am hostile in nature, it is just acting. Whenever people see me, they usually are amazed trying to juxtapose the roles I play in films and my real self.

WM: What is your take on the conflicts between artistes and the industry’s leadership?

Fati: It is unfortunate that these happen sometimes but people should know that these leaders are just like parents to the artistes and as such, they have the right to caution our wrong doings. However, the conflicts in the industry are as a result of differences in the way people view and understand things.

WM: Is there any role you think you cannot accept in a film?

Fati: The only role I will not accept is to feature as a wayward girl. Just as I have said earlier, people are very difficult to deal with. You can act for acting sake but people would not understand; they misinterpret your acting for your natural self.

WM: Are you in a relationship in the industry?

Fati: No, I am not in any relationship even outside the industry.

WM: Aren’t you going to get married?

Fati: I will, and that is why I am praying for a loving and caring person.

WM: Would you continue acting after marriage?

Fati: No, I won’t.