Uzee Usman has identified a lack of sponsorship and investment as the main obstacle to the growth of Kannywood, Nigeria’s Hausa-language film industry.
In a recent interview on The Morayo Show, Usman emphasized that despite Kannywood’s rich tradition of storytelling and its long-standing presence, the industry’s progress has been hampered by wealthy northerners and politicians who are hesitant to support it financially.
Even though Kannywood has been around for a long time and is known for its compelling stories, the biggest challenge it faces is the lack of sponsorship and investment, he explained.
Many wealthy northerners and politicians don’t invest in entertainment the way their southern counterparts do with Nollywood.
Born Uzee Usman Adeyemi to Yoruba parents from Kwara State, Usman grew up in Kaduna State. He holds degrees in Political Science and English Language from the University of Abuja, as well as an honorary doctorate in Media & Communications Studies from Iheris University, Togo. He later studied Special Effects in South Africa.
Usman began his career in 2003 as a make-up artist before transitioning to filmmaking in 2013. Since then, he has produced several award-winning films in both Kannywood and Nollywood.
His credits include ‘Oga Abuja’ (Best Hausa Movie of the Year at the 2013 City People Entertainment Awards), ‘Maja’ (Best Film of the Year, Kannywood, at the 2014 City People Entertainment Awards and nominee for Best Picture at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards), as well as ‘Voiceless,’ ‘Mustapha,’ ‘Anikulapo,’ and ‘A Tribe Called Judah’.
