Why I can quit academia for acting, singing – Danbuzu

Dr. Auwal Sani Lawal is a Kannywood actor and singer popularly known as Danbuzu. In this interview, the Geography lecturer of Maitama Sule University, Kano, talks about what it’s like being in the classroom and acting and singing alongside. Excerpts:   Weekend Magazine: How do you juggle lecturing, acting and singing? Danbuzu: My love for […]

Dr. Auwal Sani Lawal is a Kannywood actor and singer popularly known as Danbuzu. In this interview, the Geography lecturer of Maitama Sule University, Kano, talks about what it’s like being in the classroom and acting and singing alongside. Excerpts:

 

Weekend Magazine: How do you juggle lecturing, acting and singing?

Danbuzu: My love for late Mamman Shata’s songs made me start singing. I have always listened to his songs and have many of his albums. I wrote many unrecorded songs for long, but recently while I was invigilating some students writing exams, the words of a song struck me. To make a long story short, on that same day I wrote the song and went to a studio where I recorded it.

WM: When did you begin to nurse the ambition of being an actor?

Danbuzu: Since I was a kid, I dreamt of being an actor. But thank God I started acting in 2018 and recorded my songs this year, which means my dream is fulfilled. I am a medical geographer who later developed interest in literary geography. This influenced my interest in the arts.

The first film I featured in was ‘Azazila,’ a TV series. I also acted in ’Qaddarar Rayuwa,’ also a TV series, and ’Jinsi.’ The most recent is ’In Search of the King’. So far I have also recorded three songs, ’Waqar Matan Arewa’, ’Waqar Bilkin Arewa’ and ’Waqar Kishin Arewa.’

WM: What kind of reaction have you gotten from colleagues, students and family members so far?

Danbuzu: I have gotten mixed reactions. Some of my colleagues were in support while some were against. For one of them who attacked me on the issue, I said “if  singing and acting can become a huge source of income for me, even bigger than what I get as an academic staff, I will quit my day job and become a full-time artist.”

I however have my family’s full support. Recently when I recorded the video of one of my songs, I took it home so they could watch and my second wife made an important observation. She said that if I had danced it would have been more entertaining.

WM: What was your first experience on camera like?

Danbuzu: It wasn’t tedious because I was committed and have the passion for it.

WM: How challenging has it been?

Danbuzu: The challenges are enormous, but right now it’s the financial aspect that I am battling. I’m working at building my own studio that I can access any time I feel like. Such a project requires huge money.

So far, I have not encountered any challenging role. I always try hard to do what I am directed to do.

WM: What message do you have for upcoming artists?

Danbuzu: Anybody who wants to succeed in life should first identify what talent he or she has. From there you can nurse it from a dream to reality through constant practice.

WM: What is your typical day like?

Danbuzu: It’s nothing extraordinary. If I wake up in the morning, I go to work and after closing I come back home and stay with my family unless if I have any other assignment to attend to.