How I want to be remembered -Jamila Muhammad

It has been observed that contemporary Hausa entertainment industry is an avenue where fortunes are made, but if measures are not taken, the industry will in no time lose its prestige due to the involvement of unqualified musicians in the business. This assertion was made by the Abuja based musician Malama Jamila Muhammad during an […]

It has been observed that contemporary Hausa entertainment industry is an avenue where fortunes are made, but if measures are not taken, the industry will in no time lose its prestige due to the involvement of unqualified musicians in the business. This assertion was made by the Abuja based musician Malama Jamila Muhammad during an interactive session with Sunday Trust entertainment.

Malama Jamila who had briefly dabbled into acting in Kannywood before joining the other side of the entertainment industry has some movies to her credit like Dan Auta Dan Bori, Asaliya and others.

“Though I started as an actress, the music industry appealed more to me so I opted for it. And ever since, things have been going fine. Honestly, I am glad I took that decision though it wasn’t easy,” she said.

The Abuja based musician who specialized in advert jingles and political songs said despite the abundant oppurtunities abound in the music industry for talented artistes, some unqualified individuals are  busy trying to ruin the industry by making it lose it’s vigour. She added that the industry ought to have guiding principles and a regulatory body that will look after its affairs by promoting and protecting it.

“It is sad for such a promising industry as ours not to have regulatory body, it is only in this industry that you will see an individual walk into any studio with his money and compose a song. Moreover, in their bid to be famous they will give it out free to either politicians or business firms with the hope of striking a deal with such bodies; and such incidences really undermine our profession to the extent that the industry tends to lose it’s glamour and prestige in the society,” she lamented.

Jamila also decried that as a professional singer, she sees no reason why the content and attitudinal richness of a song should not be a yardstick for grading it. According to her being a singer is fulfilling and rewarding and that is why she deems it fit to agitate for the protection of the profession.

Would Jamila have wanted to be anything else other than a singer?

“As I have said earlier,I was into acting before opting to join music and I believe even if I am not involved in singing, it will still be something related to entertainment. The industry has been a second home to me and I believe it will always be a home to me.”

She also said that she would like to be remembered in the entertainment industry as the lady who had stood her ground in ensuring the sustainability of good virtues.

“I always want to correct the impression most especially in this part of the country that the entertainment industry is full of miscreants, a belief that I consider derogative to our profession. Though in every profession there are bad eggs, but that does not mean everyone involved is bad. So I always want to be seen as someone who strived tirelessly in ensuring the sustainability of the good virtues of the entertainment industry,” she said.

She also called on all stakeholders in the music industry to unite and find a lasting solution to the critical challenges facing the industry or anticipate the fall of the Hausa music industry in the nearest future.

Jamila is known for her role in the well aired Jingle advert of startimes digital satellite decoder among others.