I’m now involved in mega movies -Yakubu Mohammed

Your fans are saying you have been missing from the scenes for quite a long time. Where have you been? Actually, I have not been missing; I am very much around , I have many issues to handle more than I used to. Unlike before, when I was virtually more inclined to my music career, […]

Your fans are saying you have been missing from the scenes for quite a long time. Where have you been?

Actually, I have not been missing; I am very much around , I have many issues to handle more than I used to. Unlike before, when I was virtually more inclined to my music career, now I have been involved in the production of what I call mega movies. And these projects usually take longer to produce than what we are used to producing in those days.

These are bigger projects that take much of my time and resources and may be that is why my fans thought I have been missing from the industry.

And apart from the movie aspect I am now fully into music in English. I have an album which I call ‘Credibility’. I am right now working on its publicity and the music is already hitting the airwaves of many radio stations across the nation. However, I have also ventured into journalism. I am a publisher of a magazine called the Noble Icon. That also takes much of my time, but it doesn’t mean I have quit the industry. In fact, I am now more connected to the industry than before.

You made mention of a mega movie. What makes it different from the movies you were producing before?

What we used to have in the industry in those days were movies produced within the space of three to five days – at most a month. But now I am talking about a movie that is different in budget, nature of production,  composition of the crew and the artistes involved. That is what makes it mega, when you compare it to the ordinary one week, two week movies we were having before. And I am telling you that I am confident that these mega movies will make the difference in the entire movie industry because we intend to use these movies to create a strong collaboration between Kannywood and Nollywood.

You happen to be at the fore front of this collaboration. What has influenced you to do that?

No doubt about the assertion that Kannywood has come of age, and our movies are produced in Hausa and I find out that usually the movies don’t reach across to all sections or regions of the nation, though they have subtitles. So we thought of a way to make the industry stronger and more acceptable to not only Nigerians but also to the wider world. That was why we came up with the idea of collaborations between Kannywood artistes and those of Nollywood, to produce a movie that will feature artistes from both industries.

Another thing is that these movies are in Hausa, so we have to teach them and coach them how to speak the language. We believe, that way, we will be able to bridge the gap between Nollywood and Kannywood and strengthen cordial relationship between the two industries.

We have recently shot a movie that starred Jim Iyke from Nollywood and we have Sani Danja and Hannatu Umar from Kannywood in that movie.

What are the challenges you have been facing in producing these mega movies?

Movie is all about replication of realities. In other words, it is a mirror of the society. Therefore, bringing an individual whose way of life and culture differs from the role you want him to play entails a lot of hard work and that is where the challenge lies. So we have to work hard and never rush so as to be as near to perfection as possible. So you see, we have to be patient and considerate with our crew and the artistes.

How do you mix your music career, journalism and your mega movie productions?

Well, everything has to do with proper planning and execution. I plan my activities according to time and as for my music carrier, it has been a continual process.

Tell us a little about your album?

The album is called ‘Credibility’ and it is a composition of self-explanatory music on my return to full English songs. And from the response I have been getting, my fans are really happy with the album.

What should your fans expect from you?

My fans should expect, as always, good music and quality movies. They should also know that without them there will be no us and I love them all.