Kannywood Awards: Preparations and key historical facts

The main aim of conceiving the award is to recognise the contributions and influence of Kannywood stakeholders in various fields – acting, producing, directing, editing, and marketing among others in taking the industry to greater heights. The event made its debut in February 2013 in Kano and almost all Kannywood’s major players were in attendance. […]

The main aim of conceiving the award is to recognise the contributions and influence of Kannywood stakeholders in various fields – acting, producing, directing, editing, and marketing among others in taking the industry to greater heights.
The event made its debut in February 2013 in Kano and almost all Kannywood’s major players were in attendance. Despite that, the maiden edition was greeted with more boos than thumbs up by the filmmakers, but most of the commentators hailed the success recorded by the organisers.
At the first edition, the multiple-award winning actor, Ali Nuhu, won the Best Actor Award with the film ‘Matan Gida’ (House Wives), the Kannywood diva Nafisa Abdullahi bagged the Best Actress Award with the film ‘Ahlil Kitab’ (People of the Book), while Zaharaddeen Sani won Supporting Actor Award after his villain role in ‘Fulani.’
Aminu Saira won the Best Director Award with ‘Wata Hudu’ (Four Months), A’isha Tsamiya bagged Upcoming Actress Award with ‘Matan Gida,’ the winner of Comedy Actor Award was Rabi’u Ibrahim Daushe with ‘Aliya.’
The awards on sound, costume, make-up and editing were won by Kabir Zango with ‘Jarumin Maza.’ Aminu One Eye with ‘Wani Gari’ and Yassin Auwal with the film ‘Wani Gari’ respectively. The movie ‘Wani Gari,’ won the Best Movie of the Year Award after displaying the rich cultural heritage of the Hausa community.
During the event, Malam Kasimu Yero, who also featured in the 1980s TV-soap, ‘Cockcrow at Dawn,’ was accorded a Lifetime Achievement Award.
The second edition of the event was held at NAF conference hall in Abuja on January 31, 2015. This edition was co-sponsored by Sarari Klassique Merchandise and MTN Nigeria.
About 77 films were nominated and screened by the jurists in 14 days, and divided the awards into two categories: Popular Award and Jurist Award.
Late comedian actor Rabilu Musa Ibro won both popular award and jurist award on Comedy Actor of the Year, while Ali Nuhu and Nafisa Abdullahi won Best Popular Actor Award and Best Popular Actress Award, respectively. Best Popular Director Award was won by Yaseen Auwal.
On Jurist Award: Sadik Sani Sadik won Best Actor with the film (Dinyar Makaho), Hadiza Gabon as Best Actress with ‘Basaja,’ Aminu Saira, Best Director with ‘Ashabul Khafi.’
There are a lot of expectations on the third edition of the Kannywood Awards, which is scheduled for March 12, considering the fact that this year’s edition will also serve as a platform to celebrate the Hausa film industry at 25.
The CEO of the awards, Dr. Ahmad Sarari told Daily Trust that the third edition would be colourful, extra-ordinary and interesting due to adequate preparations and deliberations by the organising committee.
“I am assuring you that this year’s event is going to be more organised than the previous editions. We have in our list, some dignitaries coming from all over Nigeria in order to give a national look,” he said.
“We feel our theme this year: ‘Patriotism through entertainment,’ will go a long way in imparting patriotism through our medium so as to complement efforts of the federal government in fostering unity, peace and progress,” Sarari added.
He explained that the event would also celebrate the Hausa movie industry’s giant strides in its 25 years existence.
Chairman Local Organising committee, Al-Amin Ciroma, said there are a lot of significant improvements when compared to the previous awards.
“During the previous editions there was no nomination dinner. From the nomination dinner held at Halims Entertainment Galleria Kaduna last Saturday where 48 movies were entered in all the categories, you will know we have made giant strides.” he said.
As all eyes are now on the third edition of the event, the organisers are working round the clock to see to its success.