I go for love not money in a relationship – Jikar Malam

Saratu Abubakar is one of the few lucky actresses that made it to stardom in the entertainment industry within few years of their debut. The Niger State-born actress popularly known as Jikar Malam, is a major character in the TV series ‘Kwana Casa’in’. She is also a very powerful social media influencer with her ‘Jikar […]

Saratu Abubakar is one of the few lucky actresses that made it to stardom in the entertainment industry within few years of their debut. The Niger State-born actress popularly known as Jikar Malam, is a major character in the TV series ‘Kwana Casa’in’. She is also a very powerful social media influencer with her ‘Jikar Malam’ character.

 

Weekend Magazine: Who is Saratu Abubakar?

Saratu Abubakar: She is an actress, a media influencer and a business lady. I was born in Niger State some 27 years ago and I did all my conventional studies in Niger State, including my National Certificate of Education in English-Hausa.

WM: How did you get into acting?

Saratu: It all started like a joke. We were having a discussion in a group chat on one of the social media platforms and one of the participants said they will be coming to shoot a film in Abuja. I jokingly asked, ‘What about us?’ and he privately dared me, saying if I have confidence in myself, I should make myself available at the location.

Something in me kept telling me not to take that challenge, but I eventually took the challenge and went to the location, that was in 2014. I was given a role in the film ‘Hajiya Babba’ and that was how I started.

WM: How did you feel when the director said ‘Action’?

Saratu: To be honest with you, I was very scared initially. I will read the script and the moment the director says ‘action’, I will forget everything. It wasn’t as easy as I thought, but with encouragement from colleagues and the producer of the movie, I was able to deliver what was expected of me in that film.

After that film, I became so scared of being in a film and I didn’t attempt to do any film till after four years. The good thing is that I was able to establish the fact that I can act and I made a lot of friends there.

WM: Did you face any form of resistance from your parents or relatives when you decided to join the film making industry?

Saratu: Yes, I did. My aunty wasn’t comfortable with my decision at all. She said she has had enough allowing me to go to school, and I’m making matters worse by deciding to join the filmmaking business. You know the northern tradition; people think I should just get married. She was afraid that I might be going there for prostitution. She made it clear to me that she had enough insult from the community for allowing me acquire the level of education I have acquired so far.

I tried to make her see reasons behind my choice, and I told her that if someone wants to get into prostitution it wouldn’t be only through film making. I made her understand that filmmaking is just like any other business, I asked her to just pray for me and wish me well.

I also convinced her that through filmmaking, I will be able to fend for myself and fend for my siblings as well. It wasn’t easy convincing her though, but I managed to get her approval at last.

WM: Does your aunt still harbour that feeling after you have made it in the film making sector?

Saratu: Somehow, because she still insists that I find a husband and get married. That has been her wish for a long time.

WM: What happened after your four years hiatus from the industry?

Saratu: I came back to the industry fully and ever since; it has been one film after the other. So far, I have acted in Matar mamman, Wata Ruga, Yayan Mage, among other TV series.

WM: Can you tell us a little about your social media influencer role?

Saratu: I found the activities of a known local preacher called ‘Jikar Malam’ very interesting and entertaining as well. I started mimicking him secretly, I will do a video for my own consumption and I will be watching it. Later, I decided to go public with it and the response I got on social media was so overwhelming. I was so shocked that such a simple video could get such huge view.

That was how I decided to continue with the videos and within a short period, my videos became synonymous to Jikan Malam and it earned me the tag ‘Jikar Malam’.

WM: Do you work with some other people in making your videos or do you work alone?

Saratu: In honesty, I pick my costume and do my videos alone. However, mimicking is not as easy as what people think. One has to rehearse over and over again to get the best one to post.

WM: You talked about being pressured to get married, is there anyone she wants you to get married to?

Saratu: You see, I have a lot of suitors but honestly, I don’t seem to like them all. I am a kind of person that goes for love not for money.

WM: There has been the issue of sexual harassment in the industry. Were you ever harassed sexually? 

Saratu: I have never been sexually harassed in Kannywood and I can’t say if such a thing happens in the industry because it has never happened to me.

WM: Are you currently working on any film?

Saratu: Yes, I am, and the good news here is that the film I am working on is my film. When I say my film, I mean I am the producer of the film. The film is at its preparatory stage and soon we will move to location.

WM: Would you like to date from Kannywood?

Saratu: No!

WM: Why?

Saratu: I am the very jealous type, and I can’t stand the sight of my man having to always be entertaining female fans. I am from the industry and I know how my male colleagues are battling with female fans and I don’t think I can stand it. That is why my current boyfriend has nothing to do with Kannywood and that way, I can save my man.