Aminu Ladan Abubakar popularly known as Aminu Ala in the Kannywood entertainment industry hails from Jega in Kebbi state, but lives in Kano. Though his story is that of ‘from grass to grace’ he has risen to be one of the most successful singers and entertainers in Kannywood. In this interview with ALIYU ASKIRA, he speaks on his career and roles in the general election through his songs.
If one asks you who is Aminu Ladan Abubakar Alan Waka, what will you say?
Well, you have mentioned my name correctly, and you are also aware that my parents are from Jega in Kebbi state, I am a successful artist by all ramifications.
I have two wives, one in Kaduna, one in Kano. I have children, and I can tell you that in terms of success, I am very successful. Since I am not living in a rented house, I have chains of cars; I can take care of my family including extended family comfortably.
I am deeply religious, and I hate lies and cheating.
Tell us about your happiest moment?
Honestly, they are many but I want to single out two. Some years back when I was not even as popular as I am today, one of my staff came into my office and said an old woman is waiting for me at the reception. When I came out, I saw a woman that is about 70 years or above, I then asked her whether there is a problem. She said I am sure you are Aminu Ala and I am not dreaming. I laughed and asked her again whether she was in my office for a particular issue. Then she told me that because she has been enjoying my music she decided to travel all the way from Illela in Sokoto state to see me in person.
Honestly burst into tears. I promptly took her into my office, and conducted her round. Later, I took her to my family house where she spent the night. The following day we went out shopping and I personally took her back to Illela.
I will never forget that incident. After some time, I paid her a surprise visit in Illela, and when it was time to sleep, she told me that she has arranged a place for me to go and sleep. But I laughed and insisted to sleep in her small hut, because she had already become like a mother to me.
Secondly, one Abdulkareem Aliyu Babangari, who is now on compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Abuja, also came to see me in Kano all the way from Kaduna. He told me that he has been following my career and decided to come and see me to be a family friend.
After some time, I visited their family compound in Kaduna, in Rigasa Layin Biliya, and met his mother, sisters, and other members of his family. They hosted me very well that I can never forget. Up till tomorrow, he remains very close to me.
Before now you didn’t composed songs politicians but all of a sudden you composed three songs for President Muhammed Buhari and another one about Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje which seriously affected his bid to return to office though he narrowly made it. What informed this change?
Well, people have been speculating that I am sympathetic to presidential ambition of Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. It is true that I was approached with millions of naira to compose a song for Atiku and boost his political image, but come to think of it, here is a politician Muhammadu Buhari that in country of close to 200 million Nigerians, nobody has come out to say this man is a thief, or he is corrupt or he is a cheat or that he is somebody one can doubt his credibility, as such, I felt I should also compose a song to enhance his electoral success.
As for Atiku Abubakar, somebody who was once vice president of Nigeria is not an ordinary person but it is based on principle that I decided not to compose a song for him, but I have nothing personal against him.
You talked about my very critical music and video about Governor Ganduje, the governorship election in Kano is over and it is now time for reflection. So, if you will permit me, let us make this a topic for another day.
So, do you have saddest moment?
Similarly, I have many things that I can easily refer to as my saddest moments but I can tell you that the day I received a call and was told that Late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Dr. Ado Bayero, passed on was like the end had come. Though we are from Allah and to him we shall return.
If one was opportune to be close to Late Ado Bayero you will feel that the man will live forever. He is very powerful, very rich, highly connected, in fact, he is a one man mafia and for one to imagine that this man will be put into a shallow grave with ordinary six yards of white cloth is beyond human thinking.
Alhaji Bayero lives a successful life and was highly connected all over the world. I had to liaise with university professors for serious research before composing the music I composed for him Nadabo San Kano. Since then, I became very close to the late monarch, and what he told me the first time I met him after he listened to the music, was like being awarded a gold medal. I will never forget late Ado Bayero. I thank God he left behind several children that are successful in life, Ciroman Kano, Nasiru Ado Bayero, is one of his children; Wamban Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, is also his son; and many others are either district heads or traditional title holders and I am very close to some of them.
What is the position of women in your life, especially Maryam Baba, Murja Baba, Fati Niger, and among others?
You see, you journalists can be funny at times, you are not only my friend, but you are somebody that can vividly describe me in my absence.
The three ladies you mentioned, they are like sisters to me, they are also members of my band, they are mostly my backup singers, Fati Niger, is on her own and very successful, Maryam Baba, and Murja Baba, are also very successful in their own right.
I honestly enjoy working with them because they know what I want at any given time and I know what they want at any given time. They know my weaknesses and I know their weaknesses. That is why we are operating like one family without problems.
I listened to one of your songs where you were talking about your ordeal in the hands of security agencies when you were sent to prison because you had problem with wife of former Governor of Bauchi state, Isa Yaguda. What really happened?
If you had not asked me this question, I will honestly write you off as a journalist, because that issue is something that I will never forget in my life.
I was invited by one of the wives of the former governor to compose a political song for the Governor Yaguda. When I finished it, I took it to her in Bauchi for her approval and when we met and discussed, she told me that her husband travelled to Lagos and that when he returned, she will invite me to Bauchi again. She made several amendments to the song but before final approval.
However, before I travelled to Bauchi, some of those I considered my friends, listened to the song and before the First Lady could invite me again my enemies in Kano released the unedited song into the market. So, when the first family heard of it they promptly ordered my arrest.
I was later charged to court and before you knew it, I was thrown into prison. It was my first time in prison and when the inmates saw me, they started singing one of my famous songs and insisted that I should lead them in the Magrib Prayers. I was full of emotions and started crying.
The following day was Friday; the judge refuse to come to court and that meant I would spend the weekend in prison. Come and see my admirers, Fati Niger, Murja Baba, Maryam Baba, members of my crew, friends, and relations, all crying. They flooded the prison with assorted food and insisted to remain with me until midnight when I had to go to bed.
It was so emotional but thank God it was not a criminal offence. So, in the end, I was released and that made me more popular and famous.
I think very soon, I will commission you to write a book about me and my struggle in life.
