Nazifi Asnanic and Ali Jita on the red carpet at the Kannywood Awards 2016, 12 March 2016.
I had the privilege to attend the 2016 Kannywood Awards held at the NAF International Conference Centre in Abuja Saturday, 12 March 2016, the third incarnation of the awards organized by Sarari Klassique Merchandise and Halims Entertainment Galleria. (See my post on the 2013 awards.) I was impressed by the space, which was in a well-decorated and sophisticated auditorium. The red carpet TV presence included Rayuwa TV, Noma TV, Unity Entertainment, NTA, VOA, Voice of Nigeria and others.
on the red carpet.
I dislike taking pictures in conference settings under muddy lighting, and the flash on my camera is broken. Therefore, almost all of my photos are pretty bad. I’ve seen some amazing ones on Facebook taken by photographers like Sani Maikatanga. You can see more photographs at Kannywood Scene. I’ll post a few here, mostly for people who asked for copies.
Director of the Kano State Censorship Board, Afakallah at the Kannywood Awards, 12 March 2016. (Quite a change from Rabo…)
The awards were MC-ed by Waziri Zuaibu of NTA, and Aisha Mohammad of the EFCC (!). Memorable moments include a tribute to the late Aisha Dan Kano; a stylishly-dressed Nafisa Abdullahi’s touching speech thanking her mother after she won Best Actress for her role in Baiwar Allah, and Sadik Sani Sadik kissing the ground when he received his award for best actor in Bayan Duhu, a 20+ minute speech (I was recording) by the minister of Information, and a short and sweet speech by Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu, Vice Chancellor of the Open University, following a really fantastic little 3-4 minute documentary on the beginnings of Kannywood.
Tribute to the late Aisha Dan Kano.
I was impressed by the efforts to make this a unified Nigerian affair. Indeed the theme was “Patriotism through Entertainment.” In the musical soundtrack, I heard (pre-recorded) music by Ziriums, Sani Danja, and Jeremiah Gyang (a Christian Hausa singer.) There was an opening prayer by a Muslim and Christian, and, in addition to the various ministers and representatives of governors, there were representatives from Nollywood and even of an Ijaw youths association. Emeka Ike, the president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria gave out awards and spoke out saying that the stakeholders meeting recently held in Lagos (which invited no one from Kannywood) had been “hijacked” by outside interests. In one of the musical performances, Sarkin Waka sang “Mu Zauna lafiya, we are one,” and was joined on stage by many of the stars.
There were also performances by Ziriums, Abbas Sadiq, and Nura Bond.
Ziriums performs at the 2016 Kannywood Awards, 12 March 2016 (c) Carmen McCain
Ziriums performs at the Kannywood Awards, 12 March 2016. (c) Carmen McCain
Abbas Sadiq performs at the 2016 Kannywood Awards. (c) Carmen McCain
Three special awards were given at the beginning of the ceremony: The special Kannywood Merit Award, went to His royal Highness Malam Awwal Ibrahim, the Emir of Suleja; a Posthumous Life Achievement Award went to the late Tijjani Ibraheem; and another Kannywood Special Merit Award went to Malam Sunusi Shehu Daneji, a scriptwriter and magazine publisher who coined the term “Kannywood” in 1998.
Although certain moments like the (actually quite informative) speech by the Minister of Information dragged on, the audience kept themselves amused with photo taking,selfies, and wandering around chatting.
photo-taking (c) Carmen McCain
Abbas Sadiq working the aisles. (c) Carmen McCain
Filmmaker, author and publisher Ado Ahmad Gidan Dabino (c) Carmen McCain
Producer and scriptwriter Nasir Gwangwazo at the end of the night (c) Carmen McCain
The winners of the awards (alongside the other nominees) are as follows:
Best Film
Hindu, produced by Garba Saleh – WON
Gwaska, produced by Falalu Dorayi
Baiwar Allah, produced by Naziru Dan Hajiya
Best Cultural Film
Na Hauwa, produced by Kabir Ali Mpeg – WON
Hindu, produced by Garba Saleh
Malam Zalimu, produced by Abba El Mustapha
Na Hauwa, produced by Kabir Ali Mpeg wins Best Cultural Film. (c) Carmen McCain
Kabir Ali Mpeg holds the award for the Best Cultural Film that he produced. (c) Carmen McCain
Best Director
Ali Gumzak, for Baiwar Allah – WON
Adam Zango, for Gwaska
Ali Nuhu for Da’iman
Best Script
Yakubu M. Kumo, for Bayan Duhu – WON
Yakubu M. Kumo, for Baiwar Allah
Shafiu Dauda Giwa, for Ban Gantaba
Best Actress
Nafisa Abdullahi, for Baiwar Allah -WON
Jamila Nagudu, for Na Hauwa
Rahama Sadau, for Halacci
The Minister of Information presents the Best Actress Award to a teary Nafisa Abdullahi, 12 March 2016.
Best Actor
Sadik Sani Sadik, for Bayan Duhu -WON
Adam A. Zango, for Gwaska
Ali Nuhu, for Nasibi
Best Supporting Actress
Fati Shu’uma, for Basma -WON
Ladidi Fagge, for Da’iman
Fati Washa, for Hindu
Best Supporting Actor
Lawan Ahmad, for Da’iman – WON
Sadik Ahmad, for Nasibi
Ali Nuhu, for Rumfar Shehu
Lawan Ahmad (middle) with his award for best supporting actor in the film Da’iman (c) Carmen McCain
Best Comedian
Sule Yahaya Bosho, for Rumfar Shehu – WON
Sule Yahaya Bosho, for Gidan Farko
Rabilu Musa (RIP), for Dangas
Best Villain
Haruna Talle Mai Fata, for Farmaki -WON
Adam A. Zango, for Hindu
Tanimu Akawu, for Kasata
Best Child Actor
Maryam Baba Hasin, for Basma – WON
Ahmad Ali Nuhu, for Uba da Da
Shema’u Salisu, for Anisa
At only five years of age Maryam Baba Hasin wins best Child Actor Award for her role in Basma.
Cinematography
Mr. D’mej, for Hindu – WON
Mr. D’mej and Ismail M. Ismail, for Gwaska
Murtala Balala, for Baiwar Allah
Best Editor
Ali Artwork, for Gwaska – WON
(no name), for Mulamat
Husseini Ibrahim, for Baiwar Allah
Ali Artwork poses with his award for best editor and me.
Best Visual Effects
Muhammad Ali, for Hindu – WON
Musa Zee Moses and Muhammad Ali, for Anisa
Ali Musa Dan Jallo, for Bori
Best Sound
Suraj A. Ibrahim and Mustapha Auwal, for Gwaska -WON
Fahad Abubakar, for Fansa
Bello Minna and Mukhtar Dauda, for Hindu
Best Music
Umar M. Sharif, for Uba da Da – WON
Umar M. Sharif and Isa Gombe, for Gwaska
Nura M. Inuwa, for Hindu
Best Set Design
Tahir I. Tahir, for Hindu – WON
Muhammad Sani G., for Bakin Mulki
Saif A. Nuhu and Ishaq Ahmad Nuhu, for Halacci
Best Costume
Jibrin Cha, Sunusi Shamaki, and One Eye, for Hindu -WON
Umar Big Show, et al, for Gwaska
Sunusi Shamaki, for Bakin Mulki
Best Makeup
(guess which makeup artist won….? 😉 )
Alhaji Suji, for Hindu
Alhaji Suji, for Bakin Alkalami
Alhaji Suji, for Nasibi
A Tunanina... 