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| Nollywood Actor, Uzee Usman |
Key Takeaways
- Nollywood actor Uzee Usman says Kannywood's growth has been slowed by the unwillingness of wealthy northerners and politicians to invest in the Hausa film industry.
- Speaking on The Morayo Show, Usman attributed the industry's challenges to inadequate sponsorship, noting that northern elites do not support entertainment as strongly as their southern counterparts.
- The actor also described his role as Adamu in A Tribe Called Judah as one of his toughest, praising Funke Akindele for helping the cast interpret their characters and revealing that they developed a close friendship after the film.
Nollywood actor Uzee Usman has attributed the slow growth of Kannywood, Nigeria's Hausa-language film industry, to the lack of financial support from wealthy northerners and politicians.
Naija Brain reports that the actor made the remarks during a recent appearance on The Morayo Show, where he acknowledged Kannywood's rich storytelling tradition but insisted that inadequate investment continues to hold the industry back.
According to Usman, the biggest obstacle facing Kannywood is the absence of consistent sponsorship and funding.
He said, "Despite being around for a while and having good stories, I think the major issue affecting Kannywood is the lack of sponsorship and investment.
"Many northerners who are millionaires and politicians don't really believe in or invest in the entertainment industry the way people in the South (Nollywood) do."
Meanwhile, the actor also reflected on his experience working alongside Funke Akindele in the blockbuster movie A Tribe Called Judah.
Speaking in an interview with Legit, Usman described his role as Adamu as one of the most demanding performances of his career. However, he credited Akindele's direction for making the process enjoyable and helping the cast fully understand their characters.
"It is one of the most challenging characters I have played although Funke as a director made it easier for us because we were working and having fun. She helped us to interpret our roles," he said.
Usman further revealed that although he knew Akindele before the production, they were not particularly close until after filming.
"I knew her before the production of A Tribe Called Judah but we were not close. She is someone who appreciates people and speaks to them with respect. After the movie, we became very close and I love her very much because of the way she loves people around her," he added.