I won two national awards for my acting roles -Kasimu Yero (aka Uncle Gaga)
Can we know about your background?I was born in 1947 or 1948 during the reign of Emir Jafaru Dan Isyaku in the famous Jisambo Sambo’s extended family compound in Kofar Fada (Near the Emir of Zazzau’s Palace). Some prominent members of the family are late Justice Bashir Sambo, the present Jisambo, Alhaji Sani Sambo, Tafidan […]
Can we know about your background?
I was born in 1947 or 1948 during the reign of Emir Jafaru Dan Isyaku in the famous Jisambo Sambo’s extended family compound in Kofar Fada (Near the Emir of Zazzau’s Palace). Some prominent members of the family are late Justice Bashir Sambo, the present Jisambo, Alhaji Sani Sambo, Tafidan Zazzau Mukhtar Sambo, Alhaji Ubangida amongst others. My mother was one of the eldest members of the family.
In those days, the Native Authority hunted -forcefully arrested children and enrolled them in school. No birth certificate was needed, the only test is for the pupil to just touch his left ears with his right hand.
How was the education system then?
Junior Primary was for four years, Senior was three years all making seven years. Common entrance leads to secondary school. I took Common Entrance in 1961 and I went to GSS Zaria now Alhuhuda, Zaria.
When was your first close encounter with the white men and Sardauna?
I was around when the two durbars where hosted, that of the Queen and that of Prince Edward at Murtala Square. Dawaki Road, which means Horses in Hausa, got the name because Horses were camped there. And others were camped in Marafa during the second one.
When white men visited Magajin Gari in his compound, instead of sitting on the mat as the Hausas used to do, they would sit on the chair. And I and others would come close and say “good morning” to the white man and they would smile and say, “Morning” and we would run and tell others that we had chatted with the white man. Magajin Gari once clothed me and turbaned me to accompany him to greet Sardauna and the late Premier gave me five red coins and I said “nagode”.
What did you do after completing the HSC?
I then started working with Moonshine Hotel in Kano as Manager. Then I came back near home and joined A.J. Steward in Zaria in 1969. One day I saw a school mate and asked him where he had been, he told me that he was studying at Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria and I said I would join him.
When I came to Kaduna I saw an advert that the police wanted to recruit cadet Inspectors. My relation, Yakubu Suleiman, who had joined said they would even send me to England. He told me to go and join and become an officer. My colleague at the interview was Baba Tafawa Balewa who retired as Commissioner of Police.
Sixty of us went for the interview and they wanted only 12 people from the Northern Region. One Superintendent Baba Jimeta was there and Adamu Dikko was Chairman of Police Service Board. DSP Abdullahi asked whether all of us had School Certificates, we answered yes. He said those with grade three should go to one side, and half of us pulled away, he then said those with grade two should go to the other side, and 12 of us remained in front of him. And he looked at me as the youngest person and said, “young man, what are doing here, do you have grade one Higher School Certificate, HSC” and I said “yes.” I showed him and I was one of the best students with eight points.
I was given a warrant to go to Ikeja, Lagos Constabulary and then to London for training. I showed my father and he said as I was the best he could not stop me. Two days to my resumption, I secured admission to Ahmadu Bello University, ABU Zaria and that was how I did not join the Police (general laughter). The admission letter was brought to me by a friend.
Why did ABU employ you as a Senior staff while you were in year three as an undergraduate?
Some people reported me that I didn’t stay in school to read but was seeking money from Kaduna. That I was working, I had money and that I had bought a Scooter (Vespa). The Scooter was given to me by NTA at the cost of 130 pounds and the payment would be deducted from my allowances.
Then ABU wrote me a letter that I was lagging behind in academics, that I didn’t have “resident qualification”. That I was not staying in school. (Laughs)
Luckily for me, NTA wanted to employ producers. They said their graduate producers could not act like me. When I told then my plight in ABU because I was acting, they gave me an offer of a graduate while I was in year three. I then went to ABU and showed them the offer from NTA, and I was employed and I would abandon school. I said I was leaving to join NTA as producer on the salary of a graduate. That meant work was waiting for me. The Registrar Ambassador Yahaya Aliyu heard of it and alled me, collected the offer from NTA and showed the people disturbing me with “Resident Qualification” criteria that they were trying to send me away while others wanted me for my talent. At that time ABU had opened a new Centre for Nigerian Cultural Studies and wanted people that had talents like me. Ambassador Yahaya Aliyu said they would not let me go. ABU gave me employment as a senior staff, from a part three student to a senior staff. And they allowed me to do my acting on Sundays. I don’t want to expose the names of those involved in the “resident qualification” gimmick, who had wanted to frustrate me. I then wined and dined with them in the senior staff club as a young officer fresh from class room to the office. I then enrolled in the same ABU and studied an Advance Diploma in Public Administration, and after that, somebody advised me to have paper qualification added to my talent, as is the norm nowadays. I applied for a Masters and based on my Advance Diploma and working experience, I was given admission for a Masters’ Degree in Theatre Arts and my thesis was on Community Drama.
I was lecturing in ABU, acting for NTA when I was given the position of Director of Kaduna State Arts Council. I then realized that there was a difference between Government work and Academics. But I changed the council to diversify from dancing to include dance-drama to pass a message.
After many years, I was then transferred to the Ministry of Establishment and later retired from the services of Kaduna State government six years ago in 2008. But acting drama is more interesting than office or academic work.
How did you come about some of the series you acted in and directed?
I am happy I was never queried. Somebody said we should add humor from serious drama. So we started a comedy series called “Karambana”.
Nigerian Television Authority NTA said they wanted a programme to sensitize farmers on how they could access loans from banks during the Operation Feed the National (OFN) Programme during the administration of former President Shehu Shagari.
And then NTA ordered zonal offices to produce the program of their choice and to produce national programmes in English. That was how “Cockrow at Dawn” came about and I was the first Director for years.
They again said they need new programmes. And what can be substituted with “Cockcrow at Dawn”. I said let us do “Magana Jari Ce” “Wisdom is an asset”. We wrote a proposal and it was taken to NTA Headquarters in Lagos.
When it was approved for the North, NTA Kano hijacked it. NTA Kaduna protested that Kasimu Yero produced over 50 English versions that’s why they couldn’t allow me do the Hausa version. They then gave Kaduna and I translated “Magana Jari Ce” wisdom is an asset from Hausa to English. Some people taught I was getting millions, they added some things that were not in the original book written by Abubakar Imam. That caused the end of the programme, as the audience who have studied the book before knew there were commissions and omissions. I don’t care about money but success.
Can you tell us about your national honours?
Former Head of State General Olusegun Obasanjo gave me the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger, MON and late Head of State General Sani Abacha gave me the Member of Federal Republic MFR.
How did you join radio drama?
FRCN crew were producing drama when I entered, when Dan Iya Yusuf Ladan was the producer before he handed over to Ladan Kontagora and they were producing “Bariki Zauren Dadi” and “Magana jari Ce” and they gave me a role, I spent 12 years in radio drama.
What is your assessment of and critique of modern films?
It is based on what the modern people want to see from modern people irrespective of the culture of the people. If we can get a rich man or people that want to propagate the real Hausa culture, we can produce good meaningful films based on our history and culture. Independent National Electoral Commission INEC can have a program of itself.
Drama can be used to enlighten the people. Southerners invest money for their films. I therefore want somebody I know, Aliko Dangote to save the Hausa culture from infiltration by foreign norms. What is portrayed in Hausa movies is not Hausa culture. Modern film producers should make corrections.
Is any of your children acting?
My son who is an engineer, Aminu Kasimu Yero, has abandoned his engineering and is now acting. I don’t really want him to act. But in the modern times, you don’t force them.
How many children do you have?
I have eight children.
How are you coping as a famous actor?
Sometimes during ceremonies or in the market you have to seek for assistance to hide from people who want to come close to you while that may lead to a mob action as the people will like to trample you, all in the sake of trying to see or touch you.
Are you on pension?
I am receiving two pensions. One from ABU where I retired in 1992 and one from Kaduna State Government Where I retired in 2008.
I want the government to improve the wellbeing of the people who will in turn improve the country. Democracy has stayed. They have to sensitize the people on what democracy is. From LG, state and Federal what is the role of soldiers, police, lawyers, representatives, members. What is the role of a councilor with the people and his chairman. Lack of awareness is the cause of disaffection between the people and those elected.