Yakubu Mohammed: Being an actor is tougher than most people think

Weekend Magazine: What was unique about growing up for you?Yakubu Mohammed: I grew up in a home where discipline was top priority. Respect, self-reliance and hardwork were the watchwords. I lost my father when I was nine years old,but one thing that he instilled in us, his children, before his death, was the pursuit of […]

Weekend Magazine: What was unique about growing up for you?
Yakubu Mohammed: I grew up in a home where discipline was top priority. Respect, self-reliance and hardwork were the watchwords. I lost my father when I was nine years old,but one thing that he instilled in us, his children, before his death, was the pursuit of education.
He wasn’t a rich man, but was somebody who believed that, with education the nonentity could become the well-known. With knowledge one can get to the ‘promised land’ of fame, success of colossal proportions.  I attended the University of Jos and Bayero University, Kano for my ordinary diploma, advanced diploma and degree certificates.  I am sure in his grave he will be happy that I followed his advice and made good his expectations of me.
How did you become a part of Kannywood?
While I was an undergraduate, I joined the Hausa film industry in 1998.To date, I have produced more than 40 blockbuster movies, directed 65 successful movies;I have more than a thousand songs to my credit and I have acted in over 75 movies in both Hausa and English . I have also modelled for Nescafe and Starcomms in the past.
At the moment, I am a Globacom ambassador, the publisher of a multi-purpose Abuja-based magazine ‘Noble Icon.’ Also, I have produced a movie, ‘Jankunne’ (The Awakening), for Family Health International funded by the USAID and the success of the movie has appeared in the famous ‘Wall Street Journal’ of the US. I am married with a five-year-old daughter.
How do you cope with family life, music, acting and all you have to do?
Everything is about calculation and drafting a schedule that will give you ample time to attend to each of the activities one is involved in.
One has to make use of the available space and time to apportion specific time to each of these, while not forgetting to prioritise those that should be. This way, I don’t get things mixed up for fear of making any of them suffer or lack the attention it requires.
Which has been the most adventurous for you?
I will say acting is the most, because it is something that needs versatility to make real of someone’s imagination. For you to become a good actor, one has to go the extra mile to observe people’s attitudes and how they respond to certain issues and many more factors.
There are some instances whereby when you are given a certain script, the producer and the director expect you to make your own research in order to bring out the best in the role you are going to play. Acting is a journey to many destinations. Through the various characters that one plays, one gets to know and learn a lot of things which he or she will apply in his or her day to day transactions.
Acting can also be tougher than most people can imagine or think it is.
What has been the experience been like for you generally? 
The going has been good. The experience is enriching. I enjoy what I am doing. I love impacting people positively, and my work offers me the opportunity to achieve that.
Acting takes away the actor’s burden, worries and sorrows even if it is only for a temporary moment. Once you fall into the character you are expected to act out, it takes over your being. You only focus on how to make a perfect presentation and make sure your message gets across properly.
How challenging has it been taking up roles as an actor?
It has been tasking and time consuming. Apart from the acting and singing, I have other businesses. So, it has been difficult and herculean combining all.
Since you started acting, your company ‘2ffect Empire,’ which you own with Sani Danja, seems to have been quiet on movie productions.
On the contrary, we have released three movies in the last 11 months. They are ‘Gabarcikingida,’ ‘Saninake so’ and ‘Romiyo.’ We also have other movies, ‘DakaiZanGana,’ ‘Ni ne Ingantacce,’ ‘Sisingwal,’ ‘Cakalecakale’ and ‘Mailaya Mai zamani’ in the pipeline which we are working on. They will be in the market soon.
What is the state of your relationship with Sani Danja. Your fans worry that it is rocky because of his involvement in politics.
It is still cordial and intact. Whatever one of us sets out to do, it is based on mutual agreement. We agree before taking any decision or direction. Politics is life. I am equally and fully into politics. Everybody engages in politics, but in different perspectives.
It is about choosing a path that you think will be beneficial to you and to the common man. As an artiste you have a lot of people looking up to you as a role model especially the younger generation. So I think it is a duty call for you to volunteer yourself to be part of the decision making class to assist in championing the quest for those people looking up to you. It is a service to humanity.
You recently starred in ‘Shu’uma’. How was it fitting into your role?
It was an exciting experience. The character was that of a family man who lives happily with his wife until a certain nasty character of a girl reared her head with a mission to destroy his marital happiness.
I had to live a double lifestyle. At home trying to be a gentleman and loving husband while outside I engaged in some unreasonable affair. So it wasn’t easy switching my character from one to another.
Many think your role in the movie ‘Nas’ was too lenient. If you were faced with a similar situation in real life what would be your reaction?
Well, I think I would do the same. For one to be happy in life and expect good to come your way someday, he or she should be ready to make a sacrifice and compromise ones happiness in other to make someone smile. I made a sacrifice so that ‘Nas’ should not go back to his old character of engaging in frivolities. My effort was because of man and God. So in real life, I can do that again and again.
What were your views on acting before you became a part of it?
I had always viewed it as a respected field that required an excellent disposition and immaculate representation. Acting is one profession that needs boldness, knowledge, constant research and careful observation of the happenings around us to make it.
Where do you see Kannywood in another five years?
It is making steady progress. I have a strong belief that in the nearest future it will compete favourably with its counterpart around the world. The viewership is massive, we have a large market; the quality of our films keeps improving day by day. So I know we will get there.