It’s selfish to accuse Kano censorship board on new laws -Sir. Hafiz Bello

Tell us about your recent trip to England? I was in England to study. I went for a course on practical film making where I spent months and on my return we were invited to participate in the African Films Award. I was lucky I won the best Hausa movie director award, Adam A. Zango […]

Tell us about your recent trip to England?
I was in England to study. I went for a course on practical film making where I spent months and on my return we were invited to participate in the African Films Award. I was lucky I won the best Hausa movie director award, Adam A. Zango got the best Hausa movie actor award; Ali Nuhu won the best outstanding Hausa movie actor award; Rahma Sadau won the best Hausa movie actress award and Maryam Booth won best Hausa supporting actress award.
The award was organised by African Voice, a multi-national multi-media outfit that focuses on African movie industries with a view of promoting the art of movie making and the promotion of African culture in the global perspective. I was amazed by the calibre of Hausa dignitaries that graced the occasion in London.
 

You have been in the Hausa movie industry for decades, how would you describe the industry’s achievements so far?
Actually there were lots of positive developments in the movie making industry. We have started as an informal business setting where everybody was doing his or her own thing. Gradually, the censorship board came on board. The concept of the board was conceived by the movie practitioners after the implementation of Shari’ah in Kano state in 2001. Invariably, all the laws contained in that Film Board Law were drafted by the practitioners and that was how the industry became a legal entity up till this moment when a practitioner in person of Isam’ila Muhamad Na’Abba Afakallahu is the executive secretary of the board.
This is one of the highest developments recorded so far in the history of the industry. Also, a film academy in respect to Kannywood has been established and a specific market is also going to be established for our movies in the state. These are some of the indices that will make one to describe Kannywood movie industry as being developing tremendously.
 

Is it true that the new leadership of the state censorship board has been rigid on some imposed rules?
As a practitioner I can vividly state here that there were no new rules being imposed by the censorship board, all the said imposed rules were clearly stated in the Film Board Law 2001; therefore I personally see nothing wrong in trying to play by the books. As a matter of sincerity, we ought to commend the new leadership of the the board for making attempts to sanitize the profession and make it a viable and profitable venture that can be sustained economically.
I felt bad when I hear people saying the rules are rigid or they do not belong to the content of the censorship board and I always refer them to the 2001 laws for clarification. The truth here is that if someone has a personal misunderstanding with the executive secretary, let that be what it is; but don’t forget Afakallah is not there for himself, he is there on a national assignment and his duty is to ensure enforcement of the rules and regulations that established the board.
 

It is apparent that worldwide, no formal entity operates without guiding principles in form of laws. Let me tell you my experience in London, when I wanted to make my videos I was tutored on the UK laws and that of the EU and I was made to sign documents pledging to conduct my activities based on the laid down rules then why should such replication be a crime in Nigeria?
What do you think is responsible for such protests from your fellow colleagues?
It a human nature being selfish, however, it is also human to be considerate and reasonable. No one in this life gets all that he wants; it is unfortunate that such thing is coming from some of us. I want to state here that as a practitioners I would want to urge the leadership of the censorship board not to relent on what it is doing in as much as it has conformed to the laid down rules and regulations of the board.
For selfish interest, some filmmakers would want to be part of a process that will negate the good virtues of our rich culture and religion. I personally believe that the main reason behind all these agitations is selfishness on part of some few individuals that do not want to see the industry progressing.
 

What is the way forward?
Education, I have been a strong advocate of people should get an updated knowledge on what they do as a profession in life. Without education, you wouldn’t understand what is expected of you not to talk of understanding what you expect from the people.
However, there is also the need to review this law as time changes. This law in question was established since 2001 and ever since nothing has been removed or added unto it. It is apparent that the world trend in almost everything is dynamic; therefore the practitioners and stakeholders in the movie industry ought to have come together and see to the review of the law to suit our present time.