The recent comment by veteran Kannywood actress Ladin Chima also known as Tambaya on how much she earns has caused quite a stir in the film making industry.
The Kano-based Hausa actress has spent close to five decades entertaining and educating Hausa television viewers as part of her contributions to the development of Hausa drama, culture and the language.
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However, the revelation of the actress when she featured in a recent BBC Hausa’s 8-minutes celebrity-profile programme titled, “Daga Bakin Mai Ita” which literally means “from the horse’s mouth,” that she’s usually paid meagre amounts that range from N2000 to N5000 for her movie roles and that despite her experience and expertise, there was never a time she was paid N50,000 or thereabout as an actress.
Her revelation sparked series of reactions from the movie industry as various groups and individuals gave different interpretations to the veteran actress’ claim.
Indeed, the retired hospital matron’s heartbreaking disclosure triggered serious debates, accusations and counter accusations within and outside the filmmaking industry, but what seemed to be the issue is that the debate has confirmed Ladi’s claims.
The episode had set social media platforms on fire as Kannywood got divided between those supporting her claims and those against it.
It would however be recalled that after the veteran actress’ interview went viral, popular Kannywood actors Ali Nuhu, Falalu Dorayi and many others took to their social media handles to dispute the actress’ claims, citing several instances where they gave the actress huge amounts of money. Artists like Mustapha Naburaska, Fati Slow, Nuhu Abdullahi were among those that supported Ali Nuhu and Dorayi’s stand.
Similarly, scriptwriter Nazir Salihi also claimed that on several occasions, he had paid the actress reasonable amount of money as payment for her acting services, apart from the N40,000 and N30,000 paid to her consecutively for featuring twice in a comedy series titled ‘Gidan Badamasi’, adding that there was a time actress Hadiza Gabon gave her a cash gift of N270, 000.
However, prominent Hausa singer Naziru Ahmad Sarkin Waka came out to support the actress’s claim, challenging the duo of Ali Nuhu and Falalu Dorayi to say the truth and shame the devil. He further revealed that some younger ladies in the film industry had to offer their bodies for roles. His response to the actress’s claims seems to have generated more heat than Ladin Chima’s claims.
In a social media post as a rejoinder to Naziru’s post, Nuhu Abdullahi told Sarkin Waka “Call your brother to order (referring to Aminu Saira) first, because he is the biggest cheat in the industry. Perhaps this comment has a connection with Nuhu’s removal from the cast of the TV series labarina produced by Aminu saira.
Another Hausa actor, Ali Artwork, popularly known as Madagwal also posted a video exposing how Ali Nuhu cheated him by refusing to pay him, as well as the reasons behind his removal from the casts of ‘Gidan Badamasi’ TV series.
Ali artwork said it was unfortunate that they failed to understand that humanity is far better than the industry. He said in his post that there are many people who have been cheated in one way or the other and that what Ladi said was just a case out of many.
Following the series of accusation and counter accusations on social media over the issue, Naziru Sarkin Waka in a verified facebook six minutes video offered a gift of N2m to Mama Tambaya to start business and solve some of her problems.
However, his offer is currently generating another round of debate on social media. While some are commending the singer’s effort, others see the gesture as a means to gain cheap popularity.
The issue also took a new dimension when Kannywood Women Association of Nigeria (K-WAN) gave Naziru Ahmad Sarkin Waka a 3-day ultimatum to apologize to women in Kannywood or face legal action over what the association termed as defamation of character against women members of Kannywood. The threat was contained in a statement issued in Kano and signed by K-WAN chairperson Hajiya Hauwa A. Bello.
According to her, the association will not fold its arms and watch people drag the industry’s integrity to the trash without justification.
However, following the peace meeting organized by the joint effort of Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN), elders of Kannywood filmmaking industry and Arewa Film Makers Association of Nigeria (AFMAN) to address the current mixed reactions trailing Ladin Chima’s claim, Kannywood Women Association of Nigeria (K-WAN) has announced the withdrawal of its legal action threat against singer Naziru Ahmad Sarkin Waka.
The withdrawal announcement was contained in a statement issued and signed by MOPPAN national publicity officer Al-amin Ciroma after an emergency meeting held in Kano. According to the statement, all parties involved and stakeholders of Kannywood attended the meeting and it was resolved that the issues at hand have been resolved.
Moreover, a Plateau State-based film analyst, Mr Macham Aboki, has said the issue currently happening in Kannywood is not a new thing in the global film making industry. He revealed that a similar incident had happened in Thailand film industry in 2009 before the Thai government came in to formalize the processes.
He explained that Chima was brave to have come up with the revelation as there are hundreds of her likes in the industry, adding that the fault wasn’t from those paying but from those who get paid because they should be told what they will be paid before agreeing to act.
Aboki further stated that the reason behind the huge quest for every artist to become a producer is what is being presently discussed in Kannywood.
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