I got into trouble for memorizing lessons as songs -Saeed Nagudu

BiographyMy real name is Saéed Yahaya Abubakar, but I am known in the movie industry as Sa’id Nagudu. I was born on 19th April, 1983 in Kano. I did my primary and secondary schools in Rano Local Government area of Kano State. After which I got enrolled into the National Certificate of Education programme at […]

Biography
My real name is Saéed Yahaya Abubakar, but I am known in the movie industry as Sa’id Nagudu. I was born on 19th April, 1983 in Kano. I did my primary and secondary schools in Rano Local Government area of Kano State. After which I got enrolled into the National Certificate of Education programme at Federal College of Education, Kano.
While growing up, I used to convert every conversation into a song. It became clear to many people close to me that I would grow up to become a fine singer; but my parents never wanted to hear anything about me being a singer. I got into trouble with my teacher for turning my lessons into songs because that way I could memorize them better.
I was punished for doing that on several occasions but still I kept repeating it; and at the end everybody accepted my way as the only way I could do things right. Therefore, joining the Hausa music industry accorded me the opportunity to explore the hidden singing talent in me.
Initially, I joined Nagudu investment in 2008 which marked the beginning of my relationship with the movie industry. However, let me clear one issue here; people always ask when they hear the name Saéed Nagudu. The name Nagudu seems to be a household name in the Kanyywood movie industry and many people believe that it is a family name; but the truth here is that most of the people bearing that name got it as a result of their engagement with the company Nagudu Investment Company and they are not related otherwise.
This clears the question of whether I am a brother to Jamila Nagudu or not, let me state here that I am not a brother to Jamila Nagudu neither am I a brother to Adamu Nagudu or any other Nagudu; we are all business associates as far as the movie industry is concerned.
After my engagement with Nagudu Investment, I then moved to Hikima Multimedia where I was able to release my first album with great assistance from my boss in the music sector Aminu Lada (ALA). That was how the journey started up to the moment when I launched my own music company and it has been one success story after the other ever since. However, despite my success in the music industry, I don’t see myself as better than others, I regard everyone in the industry as a partner in progress.

 

Why Hausa music?
Initially I started with English songs but along the line I figured that English songs don’t usually sell very well in this region therefore I decided to change to what people want. I was doing my thing gradually without anticipating that what I was doing will one day be the talk of the town when all of a sudden I received a call from the King of Kannywood himself; I am referring to Ali Nuhu. Ali heard one of my songs and he developed interest in it and demanded that my number should be given to him.
When he called me he told me that he heard my song and that he would want us to work together in one of his movies; I could not believe it, but that was what really happened. He used my song in the movie and it became the best in that year, for that I will always be indebted to Ali Nuhu. He has been a pillar to me in my carrier as a musician and as an individual because he has contributed in shaping my life as an artiste.
Similarly, the song ‘Cuta ba Mutuwa’ had earned me great respect in the music circle. It is a song I composed based on stigmatization and it has been given people living with all kinds of sickness a sense of relief that their sickness does not mean death.

Sources of inspiration
I write my songs myself; and I usually get inspired by events happening around me. A good song writer ought to have the sense of creativity and I believe what really helped me in my career is my ability to look at things happening today and also the use of pure Hausa words that some thought were  obsolete.
It is in my tradition to take at least three days to one week to write my lyrics, and I used to conduct researches on a theme I intended to write a song on before composing it.
 
Albums released so far
I have a few audio albums in the market right now and I have also released into the market an album which I dedicated solely to Ali Nuhu for always being there for me as a guardian, a mentor, a role model and a friend. The album is titled ‘Gidan Sarki’;
My latest audio album ‘Da hankalin’ and ‘Rike Amana’ are going to be released soon. I planned to release the two albums at once. However, I have also concluded finishing touches to my video album of my hit single ‘Harsashe’. I wanted to release it this April during my birthday, but demands from fans and marketers has made me halt my plans for now.
The video was shot  in Kano, Kaduna, Abuja and Jos. I have also featured big names in the industry like Nazir M Ahmad Sarkin Waka  among others. I have the feeling that ‘Da Hankalina’ album is going to be a success, because I am optimistic that I have put in my best in that album. Most of the tracks in the album are inspirational and more like a preaching, I have really put in my best in that album.
 
Challenges faced as an artiste
I can’t say precisely that I have faced challenges in a way; however, managing fame at an early stage of one’s life is not as easy as it seems.  I was new in the industry when my songs became hits and that made me a household name in the industry, and I have never expected it to happen that fast but it did.
 Therefore I found it very difficult to cope with it, but with time I was able to overcome it and here I am today.
 Similarly, the Hausa movie industry has inculcated in me the interest of acting and I have featured in a few movies though it was not easy really. Furthermore, I have also concluded all arrangement to produce some movies. Another issue is that, piracy has eaten deep into the entertainment sector to the extent that pirated products usually exceeded your product, it has gone to the extent that people now tend to impersonate artistes and enter business deals in their names; I am a victim of that.

Awards won
I have won three awards with one song in one year, and I was honoured by Freedom Radio, Bayero University and a lot of other places. I have also had a very memorable experiences with Glo Telecommunication Company as one of the few Hausa singers to be invited for the company’s promo.