Tanimu Akawu is one of the popular faces in Hausa films today. He is largely known for taking the role of a villain in the movies. The hugely talented actor, who is based in Jos, Plateau state, recently fielded questions from MUHAMMAD TANKO SHITTU
Many people know you by the name Alhaji-Alhaji, but what is your real name?
My name is Muhammad Tanimu (nicknamed Akawu by my grandparents). I was born and brought up here in Jos.
Some people consider you a wicked person because of the role of villain that you usually take in the movies.
I ventured into acting in Hausa films with full regard to it as a good profession, and I had never thought that I would quickly gain popularity that have gotten so easily.
As to the villain roles that I play in almost all the films in which I have featured, I would say it is just part of the work. The movie directors come to me with their script and give me a role to interpret, and I discovered that it is always the villain role. Initially, I was assigned to act in a supporting capacity, and now every producer and director is engaging me for that role, maybe having discovered the inherent talent in me.
So I want people to regard me as someone that is just acting, someone that is interpreting a script in trying to send a message as accurate as possible. They should not see us as wicked people even outside the movies. We should be seen from a positive perspective.
We are trying to remind the people to understand that there are personalities with bad character in our societies, and we need to expose their kind. So, we are educating people, and we are just passing messages.
Is your family not worried about the roles you play?
All my children know that I am a good father. Even before I ventured into the film industry they knew that I am a disciplinarian, they knew that I am a moral person. I taught them good values. So no one in my family…, even my wife knows that I am just acting and no one amongst them has ever shown any worry.
Many times we sit and watch the films together and all they could do when they see some strange character in me is laugh, knowing very well that it isn’t my real character.
The only time that my wife showed concern was when she saw me acting with another woman as my wife, and she said, “At times you should please know the kind of role to accept in a film.” I knew that she was just being jealous! She later laughed when I told her so.
Are you satisfied with the role or you are accepting it just to satisfy your quest for money?
Well, acting is part of me, and sincerely speaking, I am satisfied with most of the roles. But there were some others that I am not happy with. There was a film titled ‘Dan Fari’which I am up till now regretting the role I played in it. But since then I have been rejecting roles which I know will not give me rest of mind.
For instance, as a Muslim I will not accept to play any role that will affect my religious belief. I will also not accept to act the role of a “dan daudu” (homosexual), and mess like that.
So at times it isn’t just the issue of satisfying the quest for money, because we are guided by our religion and traditional values.
But you have acted as an infidel in one films.
Yes I did, but you should understand that after listening to preaching, in the film I later discovered that Islam is a religion of truth and I reverted. But I would not act being a Muslim and later become an unbeliever.
Which among the many films in which you have acted is dearer to you?
There was a film I acted and that was the second of my films, ‘Dafa’i’ and it was from it that I got the popular name of Alhaji-Alhaji, soon after its release in the market people admired the role I played, anywhere I went people called me with the name.
People are alleging that there is high level of sexual harassment to women in the industry. How true is that?
You know, in every facet of life, there is always the good and the bad ones, even among the clergy. It is true that there are bad eggs in the industry, but they are few, contrary to what people out there are saying. Our people thought film making was only for the less privileged persons, it is regarded as the trade for the jobless. Today thousands of people have one job or the other to do as the industry grows and it is also helping the government in its bid at job creation.
Some parents even told their children that film making is bad business, and that is why some people are looking down on us.
How competitive do you see the industry, particularly among you the actors?
Yes, the industry is indeed competitive, everyone wants to be seen as been the best, and we from Jos are trying to see that we champion the acting field, likewise those from Kano are doing the same, and that in itself is a good thing for the growth of the industry in general. I said so because without competition there will be no progress in the industry.
I thank Allah that we are all brothers and sisters, helping each other in the profession.
Are you contended with your pay?
One is never found to be satisfied in life, but you can discover that I am comfortable because I am able to take good care of my family and myself, using the pay I am getting. I own a car and I dress decently. Today millions of people know me, and I think this popularity is also part of the earnings you are talking about.
Do you have any call to the viewers and your colleagues?
I would like to urge people to see us as part of them, as professionals that use films to educate them; I call on them to give us constructive criticism, to be fair to us.
As of my colleagues, I would say it is only ideal if we behave ourselves decently, morally and sincerely. The duty of denouncing the bad critics and misconception of the people about us is also shouldered on us.
We must pursue the right course in our profession by projecting our true values. Education is also a very critical sector that we must continue to pursue. For instance, it is the result of education that Ali Nuhu excels in the field of acting even beyond Kannywood.
Have you bagged any awards?
Yes, I have won some awards which I dedicated to my fans; you know, having acceptability from the viewers on what I do is yet another good achievement. I unexpectedly received the 2013 MTN Kannywood Awards as Best Villain of the Year in appreciation of the role I played in a film titled “Jarumin Maza,” and I thank God for that.
Who is your best actor or actress?
Actually, Bashir Nayaya is my acting role model. I so much like his way of acting, I always enjoy working with him. I admire him.
As to an actress, I would say the late Balaraba Mohammed was my best. Though she did not stay for long in the industry, the little she did I cherished her ways of life. May Allah have mercy on her.
By and large I love and cherish all actors and actresses that are out there making their impressive performances, in trying to improve the industry.
