My Oprah Winfrey Dream – Hauwa Allahbura

Weekend Magazine: You have a degree in History from Nasarawa State University. Did you initially intend to pursue a career in that direction?
Hauwa Allahbura: The only time I actually thought of using my degree was when I was contemplating going into full-time entertainment. Before then, I always knew I would pursue my passion.

WM: What was life like before you emerged winner in the Miss FCT pageant in 2012?
Allahbura: I was just a normal schoolgirl who did not even know she had the qualities of becoming a beauty queen, but more than anything else wanted to become an Oprah. I still want to.

WM: How would you say being Miss FCT prepared you for the screen?
Allahbura: As a beauty queen you need to be outspoken and a dreamer. I was not outspoken, but I was a dreamer and a believer. The fact that I had to talk in front of an audience regularly prepared me for the career in presenting. I did not do badly as this was a learning process for me.

WM: You were a presenter for Village Square TV. Was presenting on your to-do list or was it simply a stepping stone?  
Allahbura: Presenting was not only on my to-do list, it was a dream. I always looked up to Oprah Winfrey and still do. No matter how I’ve fallen in love with acting, presenting and owning a show is what I’ll go back to.

WM: You have had some formal education in line with your career as an actress. How relevant has that been so far?
Allahbura: To have talent is great, but to know the technicalities of your talent is divine. Studying at the New York Film Academy helped me learn the basics and techniques of acting, which I can say has helped me greatly as I constantly use it and notice visible differences without it.

WM: What was your first experience on set like?
Allahbura: To be frank I was nervous 80 percent of the shooting. That was before my formal training. I was too afraid to fail at my first attempt. What my first experience did for me was make me discover how great I wanted to be in this career. That’s why I actually went for formal training.

WM: Kannywood played a significant role in your journey to stardom. Will you be doing more in that direction?
Allahbura: I’ve actually not done a lot in Kannywood yet. I am actually looking forward to going there.

WM: You play the role of Maro in ‘Tinsel.’ What’s the story behind that?
Allahbura: I started playing Maro in ‘Tinsel’ in August 2015. With the Mnet family, all you need to do is attend auditions and you may get lucky to get a call back like I did. Anyway, Maro is a very intelligent girl and I enjoy playing her. She is also a goal-getter which makes her similar to me.

WM: ‘Giddie Blues,’ a film you feature in, will be released this month. What should fans expect?
Allahbura: ‘Gidi Blues’ is a love story told differently from the norm. A lot of work has been put into it and I believe it will be mind-blowing. It’s a film everyone should look out for as it’s a relatable story and very comical. I know we all love to have some laughs.

WM: What do you consider to be your strongest selling point as an actress?
Allahbura: I’m obsessed with the level my passion grows. I’m also northern with a bit of southern if you catch the joke.

WM: How do you relax these days?
Allahbura: I always find time to go to the beach. The sound of the waves and the airy atmosphere gives peace. I also enjoy partying at the beach.

WM: What projects are you working on at the moment?
Allahbura: Personally, I’m working on my short film titled: ‘Life in Reverse.’ It’s a film dedicated to promote unity in Nigeria. It’s also a true life story about a Plateau Christian girl saved by a Muslim woman in the heat of the Jos Crisis. As for independent producers, I’m currently scheduled to shoot full length films before June.