Why we won’t turn blind eye to Kannywood stars flouting laws – Afakallahu

Isma’ila Naábba Afakallahu is the Executive Director of Kano State Censorship Board. He is the first Kannywood member to head the board. Ironically, lately he has been at loggerheads with some members. In this interview, he talks about the board’s policies, among other issues.   Weekend Magazine: How would you describe your relationship with members […]

Isma’ila Naábba Afakallahu is the Executive Director of Kano State Censorship Board. He is the first Kannywood member to head the board. Ironically, lately he has been at loggerheads with some members. In this interview, he talks about the board’s policies, among other issues.

 

Weekend Magazine: How would you describe your relationship with members of Kannywood within the last five years?

Isma’ila Naábba Afakallahu: The relationship between the board and members of the industry has been cordial except for a few who have failed to see anything good in what we are doing even when it is for their interest. In that light I can tell you that because of the cordial relationship, we have been able to sanitize the industry by ensuring that all practitioners are registered and licensed and their activities controlled through various guilds.

We have been able to organize and conduct elections in various guilds and associations with the intent of unifying the industry. When we assumed office (during Ganduje’s first tenure), there was no coordination in the industry. Everybody came in and did what they wanted. That created a lot of crisis, that is why when we came in, I wanted to know who the artistes and producers are. I asked for the comprehensive list of the practitioners but there was none. We met with associations and set up a committee constituting leadership of various guilds, then we came up with licensing to regulate activities.

However, before all these there were several unwarranted acts by some unscrupulous elements parading themselves as practitioners which contributed in downgrading the image of Kannywood. This made us come up with a law that anyone who wants to practice in Kano must be licensed by the Kano State Censorship Board and also belong to a particular guild or association for recommendation. We did this because we wanted to sanitize the industry for the mutual benefit of all.

WM: What is your response to the allegation that you have been selective in enforcing the laws?

Afakallahu: Whoever is making the allegation should cite an example. We have made arrests but we are not the ones prosecuting defaulters. We take them to the court and their lawyers defend their action. The court (not Affakallah) decides the case either in favour or against them. My duty is to bring those violating our established laws before the court. To the best of my knowledge no one who has violated our laws has gone free.

WM: What is the censorship board’s position on content posted on social media?

Afakallahu: What the law says is that anything you produce and show to the public, as far as it is a film, it has to be censored before it can be released to the public, whether it’s on YouTube or DVD. The censorship board law covers everything, including social media.

However, if you as a film maker  indulge in releasing films on YouTube, you are still liable because you are releasing them to the public, whether it is in CD, DVD or any other forms.

As a practitioner, we require you to be licensed so you can get acquainted with the laws, and if you are not okay with it, it means you are not ready to practice in Kano because we are different from other states. We always try to protect our norms and values and our culture and religion is dear to us.

WM: How do you educate people about these laws?

Afakallahu: We don’t register practitioners directly. We normally refer them to the association or guild they belong to. It’s from there that one would be introduced to the board. We organize sensitization workshops for them to educate them on censorship board’s laws and regulations.

Anyone coming into the industry must identify with an association before obtaining a registration form. In that form, there is a column where the chairman of the guild gives recommendation before we issue a license. We will organize a workshop very soon on the relationship between censorship board and the film industry.

We try to do these to ensure the laws are followed. We wouldn’t tolerate those who don’t want to be guided because they feel they are above the law. We are human beings not animals and there is no way we would turn a blind eye as people flout our laws because they are superstars.

WM: The board’s closure of Sani Danja’s studio, the threat to arrest Adam A. Zango and many other arrests are said to have political connotations. Is this true?

Afakallahu: I didn’t know Sani Danja has a photo studio called Celebrities. It has been running for almost a year without proper registration and we had been sending him letters to come and register and he failed to do that. You must know that it was not only Sani Danja’s studio that was closed. We sealed Balancy’s as well and over 30 other studios in Kano. Why should we leave his when he refused to obey the law? When we enforced the law and he came and registered, didn’t we unseal the studio? If it were politically motivated, do you think we would have unsealed it? No. Go and see for yourself. Are they not operating? So there is nothing like politics in what we are doing.

As of the case of Adam A. Zango, he made some pronouncements that he does not belong to Kannywood anymore. If he had just bought his ticket and watched his film and walked out quietly, we wouldn’t have had any problem with him. But he made an announcement and called on his fans to watch the film with him and that he has a gift for them. This call is an event and we have the obligation to regulate some of these things. If he wants to hold an event, he must write to us for permission, then we give him our conditions. But this, he didn’t do. He only made the announcement. You can’t just come and meet people with their laws and then you say you will not abide by them.

WM: But didn’t you consider that it was just a call to get more viewers for the film they were to show that day?

Afakallahu: No, that was not promotional in any way. We have our laws and the producers of the film have already done their own promotion via the media and other platforms. The call was his personal event. Even if it were promotional, our guidelines must be followed. Why didn’t we talk when the producer of the film, Sadiq Sani Sadiq and the director Rahama Sadau, sent their promotional messages, because they followed our laws.

WM: Why do you think that despite all these explanations, some people still didn’t believe you?

Afakallahu: You said some, which is normal. Not everybody will believe you. If you insist that everybody agrees with you then you are just wasting your time. As a leader you simply do the right thing at the right time. Some may not see the good side of what you are doing now until you are no more. Most of these people are witnesses to the changes we brought into the industry and they are benefitting, but they don’t want to abide by the laws as though they are special.

Despite the resistance we get from other quotas, we still have some who listen to us and are obedient to the laws of the land. Recently I had a meeting with the chairman of the guild of artistes in preparation for their elections. I don’t have anything other than the industry, and it is my duty to ensure that people’s investments, their integrity, norms and values are protected. The industry needs to be on the path of development, as such anyone who wants to operate in Kano must not do things that can dent our image. They are a mirror of the state, as such if they continue to mirror the society in bad light, we will continue to have issues with them.

WM: Is it true that you are acting someone else’s script?

Afakallahu: It is not true. If I should act someone’s script it means I have deviated from the law. It is a false allegation and baseless.

WM: Are all your efforts because you want to return to Kannywood?

Afakallahu: Only God knows what will happen in the future. I’m from the industry and I was not just an ordinary member. I have produced many films and was the PRO of MOPPAN for a year and a half. I was chairman Arewa Film Makers for three years. In 2009, I was among those who came up with the framework for the censorship board. I was a board member of 2015 before I became the executive director, so saying whether I will come back to the industry or not is immaterial because nobody says I should not operate.

I have a registered company although I don’t operate. What will stop me from returning to the industry? Dr Sarari was the secretary of the censorship board. Is he not in the industry today? I am always part of the industry and we will do all we can to promote it by ensuring that what is necessary is done according to the law.