I want to contribute to politics, governace through music – Yamu Baba

Ibrahim Yamu Baba, popularly known as Yamu Baba or Angon Sambisa is a Kannywood actor, musician and dancer who became popular since featuring in the video of the famous Sambisa music by Liyaliya. In this interview, the Jos-born artiste said he hopes to make it big in the industry, and open a foundation to help the less privileged.

How did you get the name Yamu Baba?

My real name is Ibrahim Yamu Baba. My parents are from Biu, in Borno State. My father was a civil servant, so he was posted to Jos, where I was born and brought up. It is in Jos that I got into Kannywood.

On how I got the name Yamu, a man called Lawal in the area I lived in Jos called me Gangare, because I am light in complexion. As I grew up, the name evolved and changed to Yamu Baba.

When did you start your career in Kannywood?

I think I have clocked 20 years in the industry. I’ve acted in many movies and featured in music videos.

Despite all these years, people only got to know after Sambisa music video, why?

I featured in many more music videos that are also hits. Like ‘Suwaiti’ and ‘Kauna’ and many more that are also popular. You know in anything you do, there is an appointed time for your activities to come to limelight. So, I think mine is the Sambisa music video. I became very popular after the first episode of the series. It was like a miracle. I thank God. 

After Sambisa, you also acted in another hit music video ‘Jarumai’ do you like acting in music video more than acting in movies?

Jarumai is another music video we featured in. The music, just like Sambisa written and recorded by Sani Liyaliya, is written and recorded by one Nakabala and Adamu. They only invited us to come and feature in the video because they believe in our ability to deliver on what they want.

We also did other music videos such as ‘Mai corona’, ‘Matar soja’ ‘Mai ciki’ and many more that are also popular.

You started with movies before music; can you tell us the films you acted in?

I have acted in many movies. Popular among my movies are ‘Rabin Raina’, ‘Bakin Mulki’, ‘Ana Musulim’, ‘Gaushi’, ‘Sarkakiya’ and many more too enormous to mention.

Among the music videos you featured in, which one do you like most?

I don’t think I can select one. I like them all. Perhaps my fans will choose for me. My ambition is to always entertain my fans and give them what they want and what they will appreciate.

Do you also sing, or you only feature in other people’s songs?

I am also a musician. I compose and sing songs at wedding ceremonies, for politics and so on.

So, I do all sorts of music except perhaps songs for movies which I have never done before. But I am more into comic music. People knew me more as a musician long before they started seeing me acting.

I listen to all genres, and to God be the glory, I can sing any type of music.

But I’m concentrating more on themes around politics through comedy, so that I can make my own contribution on awareness in politics and governance.

I also feature in other people’s music because I am an actor. So as an actor, I can feature in any music video if I am asked to.

Between music and movie, which are you more comfortable with?

I am comfortable doing both. But I can say music and music videos bring more money to me now. I am not saying film does not bring me money, if I say so, I will be lying. Film was the basis, and it brought me money and fame. But presently, music is bringing me more money, especially with the release of the ‘Sambisa’ video. We got more than one million views within a very short time, and since then, any video we make gets many views and positive comments.

Who are your role models?

To be frank with you, I don’t have any role model in music because I learnt music from trial and error. I started learning because I spent a lot of time in the studio, watching what musicians do. I started developing interest, and started practicing it, and that way, I learnt it.

But in movies, I have Ali Nuhu as my role model. I like him and I like all he is doing in the industry.

Can you share your success story so far, since coming into the industry?

I thank God for the successes so far. I have been given much recognition, awards from many organizations, including Itel. And because of this industry, I now own many worldly things. Looking at how I came into the industry and what I have achieved so far, I can only thank God. Hardly do I walk freely in any northern Nigerian state without being recognized. That alone is a big achievement that someone should be happy about.

What is next for you?

My next target is to be more popular and famous. I want to be more famous because I have an ambition of starting a foundation that will cater to the needs of the less privileged and the vulnerable.

I am happy whenever I see people happy because of me. So, my next important goal in life is to help make life easier for people with the money I get from movies.

Tell us about Sambisa music video which made you popular?

It shows me asking a woman (Zainab Sambisa) to marry me. After much persecution, she later agreed that she will marry me, but that the wedding would take place at Sambisa Forest where she said she comes from.

Upon hearing that, I started giving her excuses such as I have three wives and that I beat women and so on, but she persisted that she would still marry me. It was a comedy in music format.

I’ve acted and sang for a long time, but this ‘Sambisa’ video made me more popular. People are now calling me Angon Sambisa more than Yamu.

Isiyaku Muhammed is a researcher, blogger and a Press Association, London certified Multimedia journalist.