YBN and 13×13: How politics is tearing Kannywood apart
Many Kannywood actors and stakeholders are fully immersed in politics, but they often say they are there to submit their proposals on how to move the industry forward, and not for personal gain. It is becoming a norm that whenever an election is around the corner, filmmakers start campaigning for their preferred candidates using jingles, […]
Many Kannywood actors and stakeholders are fully immersed in politics, but they often say they are there to submit their proposals on how to move the industry forward, and not for personal gain.
It is becoming a norm that whenever an election is around the corner, filmmakers start campaigning for their preferred candidates using jingles, songs and also join the campaign train of their candidates.
However, findings by Daily Trust revealed that infighting, accusations and counter-accusations based on politics, and sometimes party affiliation, is part of what is tearing the industry apart.
With 2023 around the corner, a crack has seemingly emerged in Kannywood. Kannywood, the Hausa film industry in Northern Nigeria, played a vital role in bringing President Muhammadu Buhari into office in 2015 and his re-election in 2019, thus becoming a force to reckon with in campaign processes.
Last week, popular Kannywood director Falalu Dorayi cautioned the actors not to be divided because of politics.
In a write up he posted on his Instagram handle, which he titled ‘Between YBN and 13×13’, he said, “from my perspective, all these movements are for the same purpose: helping the industry and her people and beyond.
“This is clear and obvious. My advice to them is that they shouldn’t allow the devil come in between them to cause enmity among them. They should do all they can do because of God.”
Falalu added, “Kannywood is proud of you all, and you all started from this industry and you are partners in progress. So why not put in more energy in helping others the way you have been doing, instead of trying to cause enmity among yourselves.
“I am calling on the leaders of these movements to please take note on the positive sides of their actions and the help they are rendering the industry and work together. They should not allow the devil to divide them.”
YBN is a movement in Kannywood under producer Abdul Amart Mai Kwashewa that is campaigning for Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello’s presidential ambition. YBN stands for Yahaya Bello Network and they have branches in virtually all the northern states.
They also sing for Musa Halilu, Dujiman Adamawa and First lady, Aisha Buhari.
On the other hand, 13×13 is an organization of artists under the leadership of popular Buhari praise-singer Dauda Kahutu Rarara.
A few weeks back, they were seen with the Vice president, Professor Yemi Osibanjo.
In an announcement, the 13×13 said they are not a political group, but rather a movement helping one another and assisting the needy. They were reported to have assisted and also bailed some prisoners in Gombe State.
The crack began to surface last year, when the leader of Yahaya Bello Network organized a dance competition for Yahaya Bello campaign song titled ‘Garkuwan Matasa’, where the winners received cars, Keke-napep, motorcycles and other gifts.
Abdul Amart equally gifted many Kannywood stars cars, cash and many other gifts.
Dauda Kahutu Rarara also organized a similar dance competition using a song titled ‘Dogara ya dawo’which was composed for Yakubu Dogara after he came back to the APC.
Rarara also gifted the winners cars, Keke-napep cars, houses and cash to may Kannywood stakeholders.
After the Yahaya Bello song dance competition, organized by Abdul Amart, one Khalide Yusuf Ata, a very popular Ali Nuhu boy, wrote on his Instagram handle, “You are not selfish, that is why you are helping people. They have been saying you can’t do it, but Allah is helping you to make it.”
He then called him the helper of Kannywood. In response to his post, many cautioned him against attacking other people indirectly.
Popular Kannywood director Sanusi Oscar 442 also wrote, “If not because of Abdul Amart, most Kannywood stars would have been beggars by now.”
In reaction to the post, Hamza Talle Maifata said, “I am one of them.”
Meanwhile, director Aminu S. Bono, who is a close ally of Rarara, wrote a long article where he praised Rarara and how he is helping Kannywood.
A moment later, Mansur Make up, who is very close to Adam A. Zango wrote, “I am surprised how filmmakers’ life is becoming somehow. Now, if you don’t attack others that are not in your group, your group will not accept your loyalty.”
Aminu reacted with “I only wrote to encourage people to go out and get fortunes to come to help Kannywood, not to attack anyone.”
Similar division happened in 2019
In 2019, the industry was similarly divided along party line. Some filmmakers supported and campaigned for Buhari under the All Progressives Congress (APC) Northern Musicians Forum (ANMFO), while those who supported Atiku did it under a group Kannywood Initiative Door-2-Door for Atiku 2019.
Friendly football match between 13*13 and YBN
Recently, Director Aminu S. Bono wrote on his Instagram handle, “By God’s grace, for us to cement our differences in Kannywood, we will play a friendly football match between YBN and 13×13. We will soon announce the date and venue of the match.”
He added that the two groups are working on similar aim, and that they will not be divided.
Why YBN and 13×13 should unite and work together – Kannywood producer
Reacting to the development, a popular Kannywood producer, Naziru Auwal, popularly known as Naziru Dan Hajiya, said there was need for the two groups to unite and work together for the interest of the industry.
He said, “The 13×13 movement is not a political organization, where as the YBN is fully political and is campaigning for a candidate: Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.”
On the reason for the crack, he said, “Some of them are bringing their personal differences into the groups. But I don’t see anything that should bring a crack into the industry as far as this is concerned.”
Dan Hajiya then urged members of the groups to keep aside their differences and work together for the good of the industry.