I’ve gone through hell in Kannywood –Aisha Faraga

Aisha Abubakar Magaji Faraga, 23, hails from Keffi, Nasarawa state, and joined the Hausa film industry about five years ago. She has featured in several movies as well as other projects in film production. However, along the line the actress ran into several problems. She recounts her plight in this interview with ALIYU ASKIRA in Kano.

What is your background and how did you join Kannywood?

My full name is Aisha Abubakar Magaji Faraga, but I am better known as Aisha Faraga because I joined Kannywood with the assistance of one Tijjani Faraga. My first film was Madubin Dubawa, when I left Keffi, Nasarawa state, for Kano all alone I had the desire to be an actress but I didn’t know who to approach.

One day when they were shooting ‘Madubin Dubawa’ on Zoo Road, I met Tijjani Faraga and told him of my intention to start acting. He immediately took me to the producers and there and then they gave me a role in the film. Since then I have been getting offers from senior producers and directors. Tijjani Faraga also continued to assist me.

 

What is your relationship with Tijjani Faraga because you have been linked with him severally?

 

This is the work of enemies and those who are not happy that I joined Kannywood without tears.

In fact, those who hate my face petitioned the Kano State Films and Censors Board to stop me from acting because, according to them, I am an embarrassment to the industry. They accused me of always following Tijjani Faraga to locations and other places. Even if that is true, I have the right to associate with anybody.

However, when the complaint became too much the censors board set up a committee to interrogate me and afterwards they asked me to obtain a form that will be filled by my parents accepting all conditions on the form if I am to continue acting. I did that, submitted and got clearance to continue acting.

The truth is I can do anything that is legal to remain in Kannywood. I am an orphan and am taking acting career seriously because it has provided all my needs. It is unfortunate that today Tijjani Faraga is no longer talking to me because he does not want to be seen as somebody who is not responsible.

You were involved in an accident sometime ago, what really happened?

It is true. I only survived through God’s mercy. The story was I was invited to Abuja to participate in a film called ‘Maja’, initially, I declined to go but Late Rabilu Musa Ibro insisted that I should go. So, I accepted to go but as I was about to leave I was hit by a vehicle passing by. I was unconscious and only opened my eyes to discover that I was in a hospital that was how I did not make it to Abuja.

Honestly, I cannot say who knock me down, maybe it was my enemies but I thank God I survived and today am looking more matured, more experienced and well accepted; fresh and beautiful.

 

You were embarrassed on location during the shooting of ‘Suwagga,’ what was the issue?

Any time I remember that episode in Kaduna I always cry like a baby. I was seriously embarrassed like you rightly pointed out. The thing is, I was invited quite okay but only to be humiliated and disgraced by the producers and directors of the film, I can hardly forget that incident but thank God one producer and a stakeholder in Kannywood, Al-Rahuz met me and gave me some money to go back home.

Are you in a relationship with any one in the industry?

My story is simple, I don’t have a boyfriend in Kannywood. I am here to pursue a career and be comfortable in life.

 

How about Marriage?

Any lady or woman will always want to get married and have children. The problem is the society is seeing us as cheap women and whenever somebody comes to us for marriage his friends and relations would say how can he marry an actress, that we are cheap as such we are not good material for marriage.

These are some of the problems we are facing. But I am praying hard to get somebody who will understand me and my job to marry me.

As a Muslim, of course, I will be happy to settle down and have enough time to worship my God, to take care of my husband and my children.

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