Actor explains why the Northern film industry is called 'Kannywood'

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June 14, 2017 10:47 AM

Ali Nuhu explained the meaning of Kannywood. He also stated that the advent of Sharia law affected the cinema culture in the Northern part of Nigeria.

Ali Nuhu

Globally, the Nigerian film industry is known as Nollywood.

However, in recent years, the Nigerian film industry has gone from being just 'Nollywood' to being divided along regional and ethnic lines, thus, the distinct film industries like Kannywood, Callywood and the Yoruba film industry.

In an interview with Pulse Nigeria, Ali Nuhu explained the idea behind the term 'Kannywood.' He also spoke on the cinema culture in the Northern part of Nigeria.

"Globally, when you talk about the movie industry in Nigeria, it's Nollywood. Why we call the films made in the North Kannywood movies is because the base is Kano. That's where a large chunk of the Hausa movies are being made," Nuhu explained.

"Secondly, because there's a sort of dichotomy between the film market in the North and the film market in the South. If the market were the same, I don't think there would be that dichotomy between the two."

Speaking on the cinema culture in Kannywood, Nuhu said, "Funny enough, Kannywood started it. Like 15 years ago, most of the movies we make go round the cinemas before they go on DVD."

"But, with the advent of the Sharia Law, most of the cinemas houses closed down and that's what affected Kannywood in that regard."

"As we speak, there's Filmhouse in Kano and there are some other cinemas in Abuja, and we do hope that cinema owners will build cinemas around the North, just so we can have a big distribution circle. Because, if your don't have a big distribution circle and you make a cinema movie, you stand to lose."

Ali Nuhu's latest movie is titled "Mansoor," and will make its debut in cinemas on June 30, 2017.

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