Saying goodbye to Hauwa Maina, a true ‘renaissance woman’

As an actor, Hauwa Maina was definitely versatile, having played different roles, such as the romantic wife, the warrior fighter, the submissive slave, the evil aunty, a daughter, and lately the mother to a daughter, and creditably. Her career as a professional actor, which started around 1999, has spanned almost 2 decades in the Nigerian film industry, from roles in Kannywood to Nollywood, in both movies and TV. She was a star in the Huasa movies of Kannywood, almost immediately after the audience saw her first act. Rising to a zenith with her star performance in a self-produced title bearing her name Maina, she soon crossed over to Nollywood, in English language movies, playing distinctive roles such as the lead in ‘Amina’, Ben Tomoloju’s ground-breaking flick, which I co-directed. Needless to say, she played the titular queen of Zazzau to perfection.

I have had the opportunity of working closely with Hauwa on a number of productions, chiefly the earler-mentioned ‘Amina’. I directed and shot a couple of scenes with her in in Zaria before stepping out based on principles, but it gave me enough to see her dazzling, charismatic performance as she got into the charismatic role of an amazon. So far, I personally feel that her best performance remains her tearjerker housewife in my movie ‘Kul’i’, which will soon be released. In between these two titles, I have seen how the thespian Hauwa Maina prepared for her roles. She was dedicated to a fault, often ready and willing to take risks by playing her own stunts on horseback. She always goes the whole nine yards. 

Hauwa’s versatility is not limited to acting alone. She was constantly striving to develop herself in her chosen paths. When the Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN) organized a training program called ‘Acting For The Camera’, in Kano, she was one of the students who stood out, and I was one of the teachers. More than 10 years later when I attended a New York Film Academy-organized training on digital filmmaking as a student, Hauwa was there as a student also, this time around learning to become – guess what? – a film director!

In 2007, Hauwa Maina and Sani Danja were in the United Kingdom with me, where they bagged the Best Female and Best Male actor (Hausa) laurels at the Afro-Hollywood Awards in London. I got one for Best Film Producer/Director. Even this journey was quite eventful, for all three of us, and co-sojourner Abdulkareem Baba Aminu even became an emergency cinematographer as I attempted to shoot a Hausa film in London, with the title ‘Karaga’, and with little or no money. I still have footage recorded from this adventure, which added to our experiences as filmmakers.

In all these, what is glaring is her singularity of purpose, and dedication to the growth of the Nigerian film industry, as well as her adventurous spirit as an actor, and at the center of it, her versatility and willingness to try her hands on so many other aspects of filmmaking. There is no other female Hausa film actor like Hauwa Maina. 

The film industry is going to miss her, but her fans are going to miss her even more. She came and played her role to the admiration of all until her candle burnt out. It is a wrap for Hauwa Maina. The curtain is down. Cut! 

May Allah forgive her shortcomings and trespasses. May He reward her abundantly for her good deeds, and the good messages she tried to pass to her audience as a griot. May Jannat Firdaus be her final abode. Adieu, Hauwa Maina.