It was a mix of relief and excitement when famous Hausa praise singer and leader of the famous singers association, 13 + 13, Alhaji Dauda Abdullahi Kahutu (Rarara), organised a special prayer session for the country over its dire security situation, particularly in the North, and for the deceased members of the Hausa film industry. IBRAHIM HAMISU was there.
The prayer session was held in Kano on Murtala Muhammad Way on August 1, 2022, where the congregation prayed to the Almighty Allah to restore peace and happiness in the country.
While addressing the congregation, Rarara said he thought it had become necessary for the citizens to come together to pray for this country as the result of the difficult situation it is facing.
He noted further that the security situation in the North and other parts of the country made it expedient for all and sundry to pray to the Almighty Allah for the restoration of peace, especially as the 2023 general elections approach.
Rarara, therefore, called on both Muslims and Christians to pray to God for His intervention in their mosques and churches, adding that the prayer session “has no relationship with politics as it’s merely just to seek God’s intervention so that peace returns.”
“If there is no peace, we can’t continue our film business. We, therefore, call on all Nigerians, Muslims, and Christians, to pray hard in our mosques, churches, and houses for Allah to give us lasting peace,” he said.
He stressed that the prayer session had indeed helped to strengthen the bond of relationship among Kannywood members.
In his remarks, Ali Gumzak, a renowned Kannywood director, noted that the prayer session was a big and historical effort that “no one has ever planned to do.”
He said, “As you can see, he has given some amount of money and raw beef to everyone after the completion of the prayer. This is something that deserves commendation.”
Similarly, the chairman of the Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN), Kano state branch, Alhaji Ado Ahmad Gidandabino, in his contribution, said it was something great to organise a prayer session for peace and stability to be ensured in the country and to pray for the souls of “our deceased co-members.”
“He has strengthened the relationship between our members. People that had not met for a long time, some from Jos, Kaduna and so many states, have met, and exchanged greetings, pleasantries and phone numbers. This is something very good,” he said.
Gidandabino further appealed to other members of the industry that “are rich to emulate Rarara in using the good opportunities they have in helping others and remembering the deceased ones.”
Also speaking, El-Amin Buhari, a renowned member of the film industry that came all the way from Plateau state, said: “Sincerely, this man deserves our commendation. We are also supposed to be happy and appreciate what we have seen here from the Qur’anic recitation and prayers.”
On her part, Hadiza Muhammad, popularly known as Hadizan Saima, said, “We are really happy and delighted with this prayer session. If prayer programmes like this were held regularly, we would not experience many disasters that worry us now. This is because whatever becomes mysterious for you if you turn back to God you will surely get relief. So, we are grateful for this programme.”
The prayer session had over 200 Islamic scholars who recited the Qur’an, and Dauda Rarara was among them. They read the complete Qur’an 19 times with special prayers offered after the recitations.
Many former and active Kannywood stars, both male and female, graced the prayer session in which two camels were slaughtered and the meat was distributed to all present. Money was also distributed and Rarara personally distributed it.
