How Kannywood started like child’s play -Umar Gombe
Tell us a little about yourself? My name is Umar Sani Labaran popularly known as Umar Gombe because of my birth place. I was born in Gombe Local Government in the old Bauchi State and I had my nursery, primary and secondary school education all in Gombe before moving to New World Professional Institute of […]
Tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Umar Sani Labaran popularly known as Umar Gombe because of my birth place. I was born in Gombe Local Government in the old Bauchi State and I had my nursery, primary and secondary school education all in Gombe before moving to New World Professional Institute of Computer Studies in Kano State which is affiliated to Lagos State University, where I obtained a diploma in network programming and information technology. I then went to Bayero University, Kano where I did a diploma in public administration and I have also acquired a professional certificate from APTEC.
What influenced your decision to join the movie industry?
I was fortunate to be introduced into the Hausa movie industry by one of the best directors in the industry, the late Tijjani Ibrahim. I was introduced to him by his brother Ibrahim Ibrahim who is now a well-known musician and writer in the industry. It wasn’t after that I was given a role in the movie, Shaida.
Do you have an estimate of how many movies you have acted in?
Well, actually I cannot say the number exactly but I have acted in over 100 Hausa movies; some as a lead character and others as a supporting actor.
When you started as a fresher, what were the major challenges you faced?
Actually, as a fresher in the industry, definitely there were some issues that one must get acquainted with. As I have stated earlier, I was opportune to be initiated into the industry by an expert and for the fact that I was ever ready to learn, I did not face many challenges. Good hands in the industry like Ali Nuhu, Aminu Bala Mugu and Ishaq Sidi Ishaq were the ones that received me after the death of my mentor, late Tijjani Ibrahim. So you can see why I consider myself very lucky in the industry.
Apart from acting what else do you do in the industry?
Apart from acting I am also involved in movie production and so far I have produced two movies titled Lambar Girma and Sailuba. I also worked as a special assistant to the famous movie director Ishaq Sidi Ishaq and we are currently working on one of the biggest movie in the Hausa movie industry that will be shot soon and we hope it will hit the market like no other movie.
Do you believe that the Hausa movies industry is going places?
Of course it is. I have no doubt about that. I have been part and parcel of the industry for years and I have witnessed the positive transformation that has been taking place in it. Actually I can say Kannywood is the fastest growing movie industry in the world. We started like child’s play. That time we were giving verbal directives without scripts and now I can proudly state that we have standardized everything. Our films can be showcased anywhere in the world without the feeling of inferiority. Our story lines are meaningful, the equipments we use are not obsolete and the processes involved are now up to standard. The market also has expanded beyond the shores of Africa. In fact Kannywood is coming up stronger than we expected.
Does that mean you can compare Kannywood with Nollywood in terms of development?
To me, the issue here is not that of comparing the two but it is all about getting support from corporate bodies and the government. Nollywood seems to be far more recognized by corporate organisations and the government, unlike Kannywood were individuals have to do things alone. If we are to be given same opportunity as Nollywood, I am sure we would have been far above any movie industry in Africa. Look at what we have attained without support.
Where do you think the industry would have been now if it had the support of government and corporate bodies?
I am proud to announce that there is light at the end of the tunnel for Kannywood because we are working on an untitled project with Kumbo Production Ltd and Popcorn Flicks from Bollywood to be directed by the famous Indian movie director Amit R. Agarwal. The movie is going to be shot in Nigeria in Hausa and we have gone far with the pre-production arrangements. To me the movie stands as my most ambitious project because the director promised to come up with something unique and interesting.
Can you tell us about your upcoming movie?
Yes, of course. Sabahna is going to be shot in Niamey, Republic of Niger, the movie will star artistes like Sadiya Muhammed, Aminu Shariff, myself and a Francophone model in the lead role. However, the Sanafahana sequel is also on the way, and this time around, it is going to be the first Hausa movie a foreign designer will be designing the costumes. Another movie called Noor is also on the way as the first Hausa movie to be released with English and French subtitles which will be released God willing before the end of this year.