Why I prefer true life stories to fictional movies – Sufi

Weekend Magazine: Can you tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Musa Abdullahi Sufi. I did all my conventional studies in Kano State up to BayeroUniversity,Kano, where I had my two different degrees.After that, my childhood passion took the best of me and I found myself deep into development work and by extension the Hausa movie industry.

WT: How did you get into the movie industry?

Sufi: It all started when I was in primary school when I became popular for mimicking Indian comedians. It was funny as my friends joked that I was lucky not to have been named after one of the Indian movie comedians. I came into contact with the Hausa movie industry in 1997 when I got registered as an artist with Ummi Production Company.It was under the company that I got my first role in a movie. I was in the movie ‘Gumurzu’, ‘Rijiya’ among others.

However, I was also involved in development work and as a development worker, I am always with the people at the grassroots.

WT: What do you fancy as a writer and actor?

Sufi: As a writer, I explore the ills and vices amidst the people for those at the helm of affairs to read and act upon.As an actor I reflect what I have gathered as a development worker coupled with what I have put into writing to make a movie in which I will tell the story as a whole. So you can see the whole issue is that of reciprocation, and I am glad I was able to cope up with the trio effectively so far.

Similarly as a writer I wrote so many poems about maternal mortality and what individuals and the communities should do to avert such unwanted death.

WT: How many books do you have to your credit?

Sufi:  Unfortunately I have written about three books but all were destroyed by a computer. More over most of my works have been featured in magazines, Journals and Newspaper both national and international. Some of my works have also featured in some anthologies within and outside Nigeria. Though I have been drawn back by what happened, most of my works were on my blogs so I was able to gather them. And presently I am working on three books, one of which is a collection of my poems, which I called ‘My Kano and other Poems’ and the others include a collection of short stories and the other is a prose on babies and parents.

WT:  How many moviesdo you have to your credit? 

Sufi:  I have been involved with the movie industry for long and I have appeared in many movies most especially those produced by Ummi Production such as ‘Gumurzu’, ‘Amir’ among others and the most recent is ‘Noor’ which was released not quite a long ago. I have played different roles in many movies and I have been involved with different aspect of movie production that range from script writing, story writing and directing. And again I have been involved in  many documentaries which include the most talked about documentary called ‘Kainji Dam:The Untold Story’ a documentary on the way the people that sacrificed their heritage for the construction of the dam are suffering today. Though it is a personal effort, I am proud that via one of my works, the National House of Assembly’s attention has been drawn to a very sensitive issue like the neglect suffered by the people of Kainji. However, I am working on a movie that will feature the history of this people because they have a tremendous history worth telling. I forgot to tell you that I got to know about these people when I was posted to Niger State during my NYSC days. My good relationship with the community members in that area made them take me as part of them and I believe the cordial relationship we enjoyed is what I am trying to pay back to the community of Kainji.

WT: Where have you been all these while?

Sufi:  What happened was that, I went back to study in the first English University in the Republic of Niger coupled with my development work, which you know is always demanding. However, that doesn’t mean I have left the Hausa movie industry, in fact I have never left the industry, I just stepped aside for a while.

WT: Is it true that you have produced a blockbuster movie?

Sufi:  Well, I don’t know where they got to know that the movie is a blockbuster because I have not released it yet. However, it is true I have produced a movie titled ‘SauyinRayuwa’. As a development worker, I believe it is high time we start making movies that are based on true life experiences, that way we would be able to address a lot of issues. It is not as if I am against making fictional movies but I prefer true life stories.No, it wasn’t so, what I am saying is that, movies are a reflection of the society and therefore ought to be addressing societal issues.

The movie ‘SauyinRayuwa’ is based on a true story of a drug addict and as you are aware, this is one of the societal vices presently giving every right thinking individual sleepless nights. I am quite aware that a lot of producers won’t spend their money on such a story because they think such movies won’t sell well.

WT: It is true that you didn’t use well known faces in the movie?

Sufi:  Yes, you see I am an advocate of sustainability, equality and equity. I have auditioned these young artists and they have given us what we need. To me, what sells a movie isn’t the calibre of the artists that are featured, but how strong the story line is and how effectively the story is translated into action.

What is delaying the release of the movie?

I wanted to the movie to have very qualitative finishing touches in terms of sub-title. We are not in a hurry but we will release it as at when due.