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The Hausa film industry, popularly known as Kannywood, is celebrating a historic achievement as two renowned producers, Rahama Sadau and Abdullahi Amart Mai Kwachewa, take their hit movie, Mamah, to Saudi Arabia. The film set to break barriers as the first-ever Hausa-language movie to be showcased at the prestigious Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah.
The film screened on December 9, 2024, at Cinema 4, Red Sea Culture Square makes it a moment of pride for Kannywood and the Nigerian film industry at large. The inclusion of Mamah in the festival has not only elevated Hausa cinema to the global stage but also demonstrated the potential of African storytelling to captivate international audiences.
Directed by the acclaimed Toka McBaror, Mamah stars a lineup of Kannywood heavyweights, including Nafeesat Abdullahi, Adam A. Zango, and Rahama Sadau herself. The film tells a compelling story that merges cultural richness with universal themes, making it a standout production worthy of international acclaim.
Taking to her social media after the screening, Rahama Sadau expressed her joy, writing:
“We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming support and love you’ve shown towards our movie. It truly feels like a dream come true to see a Hausa film reach global audiences and leave a lasting impact. This journey reaffirms a powerful truth; cinema transcends language, it speaks through emotions, storytelling and quality.
At its heart, filmmaking is about humanity. It’s about sharing our unique experiences, telling stories that reflect our culture, and finding common ground through the universal emotions we all feel. This connection reminds us that, despite our differences, we are all storytellers, bound by our shared humanity.
Thank you to everyone for being part of this journey and for embracing our story. Together, we are proving that great “CINEMA KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES”
The screening has been met with excitement, with fans, and colleagues, praising this achievement, expressing their pride for the Hausa community. For many, this marks a turning point for Hausa cinema, which has long sought to gain recognition on the global stage.
The success of Mamah is expected to open doors for more Kannywood productions to gain international exposure, paving the way for greater representation of Hausa culture in the global space.
Promise Babatunde
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