Saying farewell to ‘Mama Dumba’
Amina Garba, who also worked as a nurse at a clinic in Kano, began her acting career in the 1980s, while a young widow with four children, with the television show Farin Wata. In an interview given earlier this month to People’s Daily Online, she described how acting was a positive force in her life […]
Amina Garba, who also worked as a nurse at a clinic in Kano, began her acting career in the 1980s, while a young widow with four children, with the television show Farin Wata. In an interview given earlier this month to People’s Daily Online, she described how acting was a positive force in her life that brought her out of a long depression following the death of her first husband. In another interview with Afriqu’Echos Magazine in 2007, she notes that after acting in television for some while, her first non-television film was Turmin Danja, produced by Ibrahim Mandawari.
This year, Amina Garba had received a Savannah International Movie award for best actress in a supporting role in the film Mela. And only three weeks before her death, she had married Alhaji Abdulkareem Shehu Bauchi.
When I sent out internet messages asking for tributes, her colleagues responded in Hausa with warm memories of Mama Dumba. (Please note, as usual, that any errors in translation are mine):
Director Muhammad B. Sango II recounts memories of how she started her career with television drama and moved on to films when they started being released on cassette, noting how easily she moved between roles as mother, wife, and businesswoman from a wealthy household, to roles as a member of the poverty stricken lower class. “Whatever role she took on, it fit her well because of her acting skill. One of the really nice things she did for producers of films to make it easier on them was that she would give out her house at Kofar Kabuga as a location. She’d also give out her clothes as costumes. She was among the elder women who would take young women artists into her home and take care of them. She helped make the arrangements for the marriage of the renowned actress Fati (who acted in Ki Yarda da Ni), who is even now in her husband’s house. Alhamdu lillahi. Amina loved being with people and joking at her house or on location. That’s why she was popular with people both in and outside of the industry.”
Other colleagues also speak to how she became a mother to younger artists, her kindness to them on set, and her love of laughter. Actor, director, and producer Ali Nuhu wrote, “May the merciful God forgive her. She was a mother to all of us because she always gave us advice. May God give us the patience to bear her loss.”
Director Nasiru Bappah Muhammad says, “I’ve worked with her a lot, but what I can tell you is that she really liked to joke and laugh with people, and she was quite generous. Anything that she bought on location, she shared with other people. She had so much self respect, and didn’t like indiscipline. That’s why she commanded so much respect within and even outside of the industry.”
The producer and comedian Lawal Kaura says: “Mama Dumba was a very patient and disciplined woman. It would be difficult to hear any harsh or evil words from her mouth. She took it upon herself to be a mother to everyone in the industry. If she saw someone who was not acting appropriately, she would call him and scold him. Also, wallahi, being on location with her would make you clean up your act. I once heard one rascal say he was embarrassed when he’d find Mama Dumba’s eye on him, so he couldn’t talk foolishly in front of her.”
Several others recount touching stories of kindness. The actor and producer Ty Shaban says, “I’ve known her through my mother even before I entered the Hausa film industry. She was popular among actors. She was patient and knew what was right. I will never forget shooting my film Matar Manya. When she came to the location she paid money for a [taxi] drop. When we finished shooting, she said ‘Shaba, hold on to your money. You’re a small producer.’”
The hiphop artist Masaud of Kano Raiders relates a similar story. “She respected and valued people. Amina Garba did so many nice things for me that I can’t recount them, but there was a time we went to a film location. The food that had been bought ran out before I was able to eat. But, wallahi, she took hers and gave me. Also I won’t forget how we cast her in a film that we did in collaboration Togolese filmmakers. She acted the scenes for us but she didn’t take any money for them because she saw that we were struggling for money. She even took us to her house to shoot the rest of the scenes to make up for loss of time.”
The producer and director Auwal Muhammed Danlarabawa said: “Amina Garba was utterly nice. I did films with her like Likai, Barima, Tsumin Dage Kaffara and others. I was really happy with the interaction I had with her in film. She didn’t ever break a promise in all the work that I did with her. She didn’t like conflict. She loved people a lot, and would always meet up with her fans. One thing I will never forget was when my wife went to the hospital where she worked for a pregnancy checkup, she gave her a lot of attention and really took care of her. Secondly, on the day they celebrated the birthday of Mansura Isah’s daughter, she took my wife under her wing. Until the party was over, she chatted with her and took photos with her.”
As most of the others who sent me memories, Director Auwal notes that these are only a few of the things he remembered about Hajiya Amina Garba’s kindness, and as all others prayed, “May the merciful God forgive her, lay her to rest, and reward her with heaven. Amin.”