Why I cried at the City People Award – Umma Shehu

Umma Shehu got educated at Sheik Abubakar Gumi College Kaduna and School of Health Technology also in Kaduna before meeting Tijjani Asase, an A-grade Kannywood actor who introduced her into Hausa Movies proper.
So far the fast rising actress featured in successful films like: Hawan Dare, Dare Daya Sa-insa mafiya, wutar Kaikayi, Maliya and Da’ira. Her stunning role has made her won the 2015 Best New Actress Award organised by City People Entertainment Magazine in Lagos.  In this interview with ALIYU ABUBAKAR ASKIRA in Kano, Ummi could not aptly describe how overwhelming it was for her, upon being called to the podium and instantly burst into tears

You are the winner of City People Best New Actress award. How does it feel to be the winner of such award?
The truth is, it made me cry. I cried but that of joy, I was overwhelmed. Initially when I was invited to grace the occasion in Lagos I declined but friends put pressure on me to be there at least to mix and socialize with our Southern colleagues, however, thank God I finally made it and I won an award that has gingered me to put in my best. I see acting as a profession, a decent profession for that matter.

Your role in films like Sa’insa has made people to think that no wonder your marriage collapsed, because in the film you gave your stage husband, Adam A. Zango lot of trouble?
Honestly, after the film was out one day, I went to town and entered one shop to buy Hausa films, somebody I met in the shop asked me why I did not greet them. He said no wonder he watched some of my films and concluded that I am highly stubborn. I laughed and said that was how I was asked to play my role, Umma Shehu is not controversial I am as peaceful as pigeon.

Who introduced you into Kannywood?
Well, I used to watch Hausa and English films before, but never thought I would be an actress one day. I have a friend one Tijjani Asase, anytime they come to Kaduna to shoot films he would visit me and one day he asked me if I could act. I was nervous but when I appeared in ‘Hawan dare’ in which Tijjani too was in the film. That was where I gained a lot of confidence. In fact they even shot me on the leg in the film.

Rumour has it that you were married before, How true is it?
Well, it’s true I am a divorcee, I even have a daughter. When, how and what crashed my marriage I will not tell you, but I am ready to settle down again if Mr. Right comes my way, as long as he is a Muslim and God fearing he may come from Kannywood, it doesn’t matter. But right now I am single, free and ready to be successful.

Do you aet for yourself a sort of timeframe of when and how long you intend to act in Kannywood?
No, when I came in it was not by any arrangement, I will be here as long as I want until I get married. Honestly the sky is my limit.

People don’t have much respect for female actresses and they see some of you as cheap and materialistic. What is your take on that?
it’s true, I heard a lot from people who don’t know us. Some would come to me and start abusing others, all I do is to take my leave, I don’t gossip. Somebody was asking me the other day about Rahama Sadau acting in Nollywood, how does that concern me? I was severally asked to go and act in Nollywood I refused base on principle. What they do is against my religion any of us is free to do or act any role he wants. If you come to me and abuse others, tomorrow you will go to those you abused before me and abuse me, I mind my business. The society should change the way they perceived us, we are not what they thing or heard about us.

Now, what is your target?
Well to entertain my fans, make good money, visit places of interest, perform hajj, and then settle down.  You see, no woman will tell you that she doesn’t want to get married, marriage is the ultimate. A man can marry four wives and even reshuffle them, but women have a period that they will expire. My prayer is if I settle down again I will make the best use of it. The one that crashed I tried to make it work, but God knows why it did not work out.

Taking about marriage on the lighter note, if Ali Nuhu, Adam A. Zango, Yakubu Muhammad, Sani Danja and Tijjini Asase propose to you on the same day who are you going to chose?
Wonderful! Even in a dream such will not happen. Those you mentioned none of them is eager to pick a second wife and I respect all of them a lot, we are all like one family. I know their wives, personally pray for me. I am not desperate to marry in Kannywood.

Tell us your saddest and happiest moment in the industry?
Saddest? Well the day I received the news of the death of the prolific actor and comedian, Late Rabilu Musa Ibro. Remember in the comedy film Namaliya I was one of his wayward daughters. Ibro was a fantastic actor and comedian, the industry will miss him a lot. Happiest moment, when I won the City People best New Actress Award in Lagos for the year 2015, it was wonderful and rewarding. Instantly I became the toast of everybody and since then I have been acting and receiving several offers, including Invitation to go and act in Nollywood but I turned it down. Nollywood is not for Umma Shehu, our culture and religion differs.

Do you enjoy acting?
Whoah, it’s a fun travelling, lodging in a hotel with colleagues eating together, going out to shop, meeting fans, it’s wonderful I am extremely happy in Kannywood. There are people that before now I only watched them in films but now we rub shoulders as colleagues, it’s a great fun honestly.

Will you allow your children to join Kannwood?
That will be the decision of their father.  It also depends on the circumstance. I never thought I would be here so if in future, my daughter or son ended up here its destiny and I will take it in good faith.

Can you put food on your table?
Of course, that is why I am here. The environment is okay, the pay is moderate I am comfortable financially. The pay too is increasing though it depends on one’s role and character. I am happy, and intend to feature in more higher budget and challenging films so that I could win more awards.