EXCLUSIVE: Why Kannywood movies no longer accommodate songs, dance – directors

By Uzair Adam On Jun 16, 2024

The Kannywood movies are widely loved by Hausa-speaking communities across Nigeria and beyond. The movies are known for their depictions of Hausa culture and life.

The plots of Kannywood movies often feature drama, romance and comedy, making them an escape from the everyday harsh reality for many viewers.

The songs and dances featured in the movies have become a signature of Kannywood cinema and are popular to audiences.

However, the songs and dances have ceased to be featured in the present Kannywood movies due to the new dimensions that the movies have taken.

In an interview with the SolaceBase, some Kannywood producers have explained reasons for taking the new direction.

Songs are incompatible with present movies – Lawan Ahmad

Lawan Ahmad, the producer of the popular Hausa TV series, Izzar So, who is also an actor, said songs were removed to suit the kind of movies produced in the current day.

“The songs were not removed because they are insignificant – their immense impact is still relevant,” he added.

Hausa movies re-create folktales, history

Another director and actor in the industry, Ali Rabi`u Ali, popularly known as Daddy, said Hausa films in those days were mostly traditional ones and required songs and dances.

He stated, “Most of the Hausa films in those days were a replica of tales (tatsuniyoyi) and history that needed to be accompanied with songs and dances of dandali (a stage).

“These songs contribute(d) in advertising and selling of the films. And that was why the songs used to be released even before the production of the movies.

“This was to let people know about the film, just like the way Indian movies did,” Daddy explained.

He added that film series at the moment do not require songs and dances because people are after the theme of the film not songs.

“Besides, song and dance scenes are very costly and time consuming, forcing us to cease using them in our films,” he stated.

Asked whether this was a threat to the Hausa singers, Ahmad said this was rather a wonderfully exciting opportunity for singers to be known for their intellectual production in the society.

“This has helped the Hausa musicians to be known by the people for their talented works, as they make and act videos of their songs – and there is a lot of creativity in their businesses nowadays as singers resort to dramatic songs, with sole independent themes.

“Now, instead of saying Ali Nuhu or Adam A. Zango to be featured in the video of their songs, the singers have now seized the opportunity to sell their faces, while taking a new dimension,” he added.

He added that the dramatic songs have now taken a new dimension, a development which attracts many people in Hausa communities.

Songs, dances mere imitation of Bollywood – don

A lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano, Malama Ummi Hassan, opined that songs and dances in Hausa movies are imitation of Bollywood movies.

The lecturer, who teaches film over the years, stated that, “Songs and dances in Kannywood movies are mere facsimiles of Bollywood movies. And now that the Bollywood has stopped using them in their movies, particularly series, Kannywood also stops.

“Bollywood now uses only some musical interludes as background sounds in their series movies to establish settings or set moods, to mention but a few. Sometimes they use the songs of the already-produced films, say Kalhonaho.”

She added that a movie can achieve a desirably intended theme without any songs and dances.

“You must not show an actor and or actress dancing before your film sells.”

Some songs out of context

The university lecturer argued that at times the songs and dances in most Kannywood movies were out of context, but were used to meet the tradition of Kannywood movies.

“It is like the Kannywood has made it a tradition to put songs in their movies. The songs, however, are sometimes out of context.”

Ummi, who sees films and songs as two different things, advocated that the duo should remain independent, each conveying different meanings.

She added that even though songs and dances have ceased to be used, the Hausa movies have witnessed a steep increment in the number of their viewership.

“I personally see this is a new development. Films and music are two different things. Songs can be used in a background to set mood,” she added.

Our business at risk – singer

A singer, Hafeez Umar Maikano, who spoke to SolaceBase, said their business is at risk following the removal of songs in the Kannywood movies.

According to Maikano, although songs have preceded films, singers now rely on film makers to survive.

“I personally see this as a challenge to the Hausa singers. The removal of songs in movies has discouraged not only professional singers but also upcoming ones.

“Before, filmmakers used to contract singers to sing for a particular movie, giving them all the required information including the theme of the movie.”