The film industry anywhere seeks to address the societal aspirations of the people. That is the general idea. Those in it do not have to live by what they act, though. When the “Soyayya” movies began in Northern Nigeria, it was mostly detested by elders and loved by the young because the contents addressed the “soft center” of the Youth but was seen as a vehicle of corruption in the Society by the elderly. The Industry, later, introduced more “matured” scripting into the business to attract the confidence of the elderly. The Industry, then, became a mixture of both the desired and the undesirable in concept and content.
Generally, however, the artistes, no doubt, never had the sympathy of the society in terms of rating in character and purpose. In truth, most men who joined the league were seen to have come from a very doubtful moral clime. The girls amongst them are viewed as worse; but they claim to be “educators, entertainers and informers”, nonetheless. To be fair however, as the industry grows, scripting became more matured and more responsible in many of the production companies while contents (acting) became more professional. But, then, it was like a double edged sword. The good products continue to improve while the bad ones equally continue to slip away from public confidence.
However, what the Industry tried to do hard was to give itself a face of honour, dignity and candour, just as it is seen to continue to rot within in terms of content, character and responsibility. The artistes get richer by the day as the industry turns into a multi billon naira one. Corruption, right from the process of initiation into the business allegedly became more rampant. Just like the bane of all entertainment Industry, the Soyayya film industry, headquartered in Kano, was alleged to harbouring all the known vices such as proliferation of drug abuse, illicit sex among artistes, lesbianism and homosexuality. They, of course, deny all these.
But beginning with the Maryam Hiyana saga, the Industry, for the first time, accepted the existence of wanton fornication in the industry involving randy producers and desperate artistes, etc. It set up a disciplinary committee then, which fished out certain “sacrificial lambs” like the popular “Zee Zee” girl for punishment, (an act that might have angered her and probably pushed her out of Kano to Lagos where she engaged in open and daring relationship with a certain musician). Since that time, it is one issue of fornication, abortion by a female artiste to a certain male artiste or producer, violence amongst artistes over one illicit habit by one or group to another one or group, etc.
The worst to come was the viral videos going round which further indicate that the existence of fornication is not the only vice the industry has to accept. But it has to accept the existence of lesbianism and drug addiction as well. Recently, the allegation of homosexuality was fired by a certain member of the industry as seen in a viral video. These are, of course, vices commonly associated with all film industries across the world. The only difference with Kannywood is that the industry is situated in a society that cherishes the virtues if Islam; and survival under such circumstances by an industry like that has to be guided by caution, secrecy, denials and even deceit.
If I am asked, although not a prophet of doom, I will say we’ve seen nothing yet from the rot buried in that industry. It is a manifestation of end times. It is something we no longer have power to contain or suppress. As much as we advance towards the end of time, so shall these promised manifestations appear and even begin to get acceptance….or at least, the society becoming used to them.
I remember writing an article in the New Nigerian Newspaper some twenty five years ago which I titled, “Who Dines With The Leper”? following a growing, open resistance to the fast growth of the Soyayya Industry including public burning of their video cassettes. Now, we do not seem to have an option at all. The Hisbah can tell you better. The delicious of food is now easily on the table of the leper. If one wants to eat the best of it, one must dine with the leper.
Bappa is a media aide to Zamfara State Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle
