I Didn’t Face Any Problems in Struggling to Enter the Film Industry — Asiya Muhammad

Like every week, the HOME OF JOY page is a page that usually brings you famous actors, big and small, from the Hausa film industry, Kannywood.

Today, the page is also featuring a famous actress, HAJIYA ASIYA MUHAMMAD, popularly known as UWAR DASHI. In which she explains to readers the story and the plot of some of the events happening in the Kannywood industry, the famous actress made a call to those who want to join the Kannywood industry, as well as many other issues related to her life and career.

First, you will tell the readers your full name.

My name is Hajiya Asiya Muhammad, but I am better known as Aunty Asiya, the father of the house. The father of the house was born because of my company called ‘Uwar Dashi Film Production’, and I made a film called Uwar Dashi, I made a big controversy in it, that is why I am called Uwar’dashi.

Can you tell the readers a brief history of your life?

I was born in Kaduna ‘Jama’a Road by Lagosstreet’. But my father is originally from Bakatsine, born in Huntuwa. My mother is also Bagobura, when a teacher goes to town with his almajiris, he stays at the maigari’s house, the maigari will give him a plot of land and say “go and build”, if you build it, it will be yours. Our eldest son who came to Kaduna was given this land, he built it. After he finished building the whole house, he went to fetch our mother and her rival.

What is your role in the Kannywood industry?

I play the role of a hero, and what is the preparation.

What attracted you to get involved in the Kannywood industry?

What attracted me was, I would see a person die for more than ten, five, eight, twenty years, but he was shown in a movie and people kept praying for him. Every time a dead person is shown, prayers are offered for him, you know when a person dies and you say that the story is all about who died. Well, God is the Most Merciful, if He sees fit, He will accept your prayers, but you have never seen a stranger, and he has never seen you either, except on ‘Television’ or on the phone, then you see God accept his prayers. This attracted me because even as a person, I know people who pray for me.

How many years do you think it was before you started acting?

I haven’t been in Kannywood for very long, I don’t think I’ve been in Kannywood for six years.

Was it a struggle to get into the industry?

I didn’t have any struggle, because I got into it easily.

Regarding your parents or siblings when you told them you wanted to start a film, did you get any challenges from them or not?

When I joined, my mother was still alive, and she was a very easy-going woman. When I was called after I returned, I went to her room. Our houses are different, she is in one, my new house is in another, and I am in a different house. I told her everything, she said that whatever you turn into a profession, it will also turn into a profession for you. So if you take this as a profession, God bless you. She even took me to the door of the house and accompanied me. My children also showed that they didn’t like it, I have only one son in the world, my younger brother since he was three years old, I have been holding him. They showed their disgust at what I was doing, and I tried to understand them, and she kept bringing it to me, even though if I was late, I would call one of them and ask him to come and pick me up.

Which film did you start with and when was the first one?

I started with Ninety Days. One night, I was sleeping at nine, when one Auwalu Jauro called me who was appearing as ‘Assistant Commissioner’ in Ninety Days. On the sixth day after returning from Saudia, he said I had come for God’s sake for something, I said “what is it?” He said I had come. He gave me a clear picture of where he was, and told me I would be somewhere to hold a moment for them. It was just one ‘scene’! I did it in Ninety Days, and that day I was first given a ‘camera’.

How many films have you done?

Wow! Even from last year to this year, I don’t know if I will be killed, and I am making videos like this ‘comedy’, I used to appear in Uwa. For me, right now, if I am called a film, it would be better to call me this ‘comedy’, because it is better and more rewarding. Because the children value me more than they think. I went to the movies and got up to pay for my car, drinks and other things but they charged me N3000, since I did that recently, but that didn’t bother me because the movie was a big movie. Well, that’s what attracts us, you’ll say you’ve been seen in a big movie. But by God, I’m called a ‘comedy’ and they charged me N10,000, and I gave them N8000. This is the kind of ‘comedy’ that is being shown on Tiktok. And it’s not a ‘scene’ or anything, it’s short, some are just done with a smartphone. In an hour, you have to do eight scenes.

Can you tell the readers the names of some of the movies you have appeared in?

There are; Hagu da Dama, by Abba Ɗorayi. Takun Sakạ, by Abba Ɗorayi. Qalubale, Hauwa Kulu, by Maishadda. Bana Bakwai, by Maishadda. Wutar Kara, by Maishadda. Wata Shida, I appeared in Ali Nuhu’s wife, Adam Zango’s mother, Laure appeared in Babar Yawale. My company has about five films that are about to be released, they are; Uwar Dashi, Uwar Dillalia Dila, Wata Suruka, Nabil, Bada Yawuna Ba.

Among the films you have appeared in, which film is your favorite/your favorite?

Left and Right, Abba Dorayi’s film, I love that one. The one I appeared in under the name Baba Ladi, which we did with KB International.

Is there any other film that you have acted in that you know you’ve acted in?

Yes, there are. The film of some twins, I don’t even know the name of the film. The film is about two twins who come from Lagos or Abuja. I’m ashamed of the director, I can’t say his name. I was very happy to be in this movie because I lost a lot, my clothes, my necklace, my earrings, my ring, I collected them all, God forbid they were not gold. But they would also be worth about N25,000. I put them in the pocket of my shirt, my shadda. When they said that I was from a village, I couldn’t do it, so I put it in my shadda of a village. When I got home I looked for the shirt and I lost it, the necklace, the ring were all in the shirt until today, except tomorrow is the day of resurrection. In the end, I worked for them for about four days and they said that I would be given N10,000, and the money came out. When it came out, they were sad and angry that they gave it to me. Because of the words the children said to me, you will be surprised, “Did they say that it would be eaten!, or that they said that your money would be eaten?” Even though they didn’t pay for the car, he didn’t even bother to send it to me, so he had his Hussain send it to me. Even though they sent it, no one called me and said, “Here’s your money.” I kept looking around and saw it.