My dad’s confidence in me supercided mine – Rikadawa

Muhammadu Rabi’u Rikadawa is the secretary of Actors’ Guild Kano chapter. A versatile actor who has turned the fortunes of the Hausa movie industry for his multi-dimensional roles, Rikadawa is one of the unique actors the industry has ever produced. In this interview, he talks about the relationship between artists and regulatory bodies, among other […]

Muhammadu Rabi’u Rikadawa is the secretary of Actors’ Guild Kano chapter. A versatile actor who has turned the fortunes of the Hausa movie industry for his multi-dimensional roles, Rikadawa is one of the unique actors the industry has ever produced. In this interview, he talks about the relationship between artists and regulatory bodies, among other issues.

Daily Trust: Who is Rabi’u Rikadawa?

Muhammadu Rabi’u Rikadawa: I was born and raised in Kaduna State though my origin is Kano because my parents were from Rikadawa in Madobi Local Government Area of Kano State. Therefore, Kaduna is my state by birth, but to make people understand my roots, Rikadawa was attached to my name.

My relationship with acting started back in secondary school. I was a member of the Hausa drama society in our school. As a young man, my interest in acting was very strong and had manifested in almost all my activities. Along the line, the then Kaduna State Broadcasting Corporation (KSBC) now Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC) started a drama program which I was part of, gradually our drama became a popular one and then we were invited by FRCN Kaduna to start a television drama at NTV Kaduna, so that was how I started.

 

Rikadawa at his best in one of his movies

DT: Does acting pay your bills?

Rikadawa: People like us who had started this business a long time ago, did so because of our interest in drama. But gradually things started to take shape and metamorphose into another thing different.  What I mean by another thing different is that financial exchange started taking an upper hand in the sector. People now earns through what they were doing for sheer interest, it has become a profession that an individual can make a living from.

DT: Can you recall how much your first pay was?

Rikadawa: As I have stated in some of my interviews, when we started as professionals I was paid less than N20 for a whole episode, and along the line we stated getting N80 per scene. Now we are talking about a huge amount of money earned by actors and actresses in the Hausa movie industry.

DT: What is your view on the recent fracas between MOPPAN and the Kano State Censorship Board on Rahama Sadau’s pardon?

Rikadawa: I get baffled and disturbed on the tune of this issue. Agreed, the actress had made a mistake and the censorship board gave her conditions to fulfill which she did. The board then finds it fit to pardon her, which we all appreciate and commended the board for.

As the secretary of the Guild of Artists in Kano State, I feel that the issue of Rahama Sadau should have been a long forgotten one as she has served her punishment. I believe her episode in the saga will serve as a deterrent to others. To me, her fault stemmed from youthful exuberance and she has made it clear that she erred and apologised for her action, the next option is to pardon her and that’s all. The guild has issued a press release commending the board’s action, I see no reason why someone will personalise this issue as if it is a chance for vendetta.  

DT: Is it right to judge artists by the role they played in movies?

Rikadawa: It is absolutely wrong to do such a thing. Movies as I have always said is a reflection of the society. If you don’t show how a drunkard behaves, how would you show the effect of alcohol?  But that doesn’t make you a drunkard in actual life.

However, the irony of it all is that people don’t tend to see you in the frame of the good man you played in movies rather they will always want to portray you in the bad role you played. For instance, I have appeared in many movies as a very powerful king but people have never stopped me along the road to pay homage. Why must it be when I play the role of a very bad person or a corrupt government official?

 

Rikadawa

DT: You are in the forefront of the newly introduced Kannywood English movie. Is that a preparatory move to Nollywood?

Rikadawa: It is very vital to understand that movie has no language. My being in the Kannywood English movie doesn’t make me different from the Rikadawa of yesterday. To me, the movie world is virtually the same. It is all about educating and entertaining the viewers. Moreover, I have been acting in English drama for quite a long time since the era of TELEFEST; therefore, it makes no difference. This is only advancement in the movie industry. To me Kannywood or Nollywood are the same because they are avenues to enlighten others on issues.

DT: Tell us an unforgettable memory.

Rikadawa: I can’t forget the recognition my late father gave to my profession. Whenever someone went to my father for assistance on issues that had to do with either top government officials or businessmen; he always asked them to see me for an immediate solution to their problems. The confidence he had in the efficacy of my chosen profession as an actor superseded the confidence I have in it.

DT: Where do you see the Hausa movie industry in the nearest future?

Rikadawa: With the recent trend in the Hausa movie industry, where avenues to gain more expertise, experience and education on movie making processes are now available and practitioners have accepted to imbibe them, the future of the industry is brighter than we ever thought.

I kept emphasising that there is a need for us to keep exploring the industry’s opportunities educationally and that way we will be able to make the industry bigger in terms of quality of movies we produce.    

DT: Are you married?

Rikadawa: Yes, I am married with children.