I Have Never Regretted Joining the Film Industry — Rukayya Ibrahim Asabe Speaks Out

This is a page that brings you famous actresses, big and small, from the Hausa film industry, Kannywood. Like every other page, today the page is featuring a leading actress who is currently acting, namely, RUKAYYA IBRAHIM, better known as ASABE, where she tells readers about issues related to her life and film career, while the actress also made some comments to those who are trying to enter the Kannywood industry, especially young emerging women.

Here is the interview with LEADERSHIP HAUSA correspondent RABI’AT SIDI BALA;

First, you will tell readers your full name and the name by which you are best known.

My name is Rukayya Ibrahim Sharada, better known as Asabe in the show Garwashi.

Can you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?

I was born in Gwale, ‘yan Alewa’, where I did my primary school, then I went to ‘Da’awa Secondary School’ at ‘Railway’, where I finished my studies. Then I got married, I have five children, three boys, two girls. My eldest son is also married and his wife gave birth.

What attracted you to get involved in the film industry?

The industry interests me a lot, I often watch Hausa movies and I enjoy them, because Indian or American movies don’t really interest me, but if they say it’s Hausa, I will watch them.

How old would you say you were when you started acting?

I would say you were about eight years old in Kannywood.

How was the struggle at the beginning?

There was a lot of struggle.

When it came to your parents or family when you first told them you were going to start a film industry, were there any challenges you faced from them?

I faced a lot of challenges from my brothers and sisters, they showed that they did not want it, I did not care since my father wanted it. My father, I have nothing to say to him, may God reward him well, he has given me a lot of support in the business. My brother, even my brothers and my son, were the ones who showed their disapproval of it, but my father himself said that it was okay, “May God help you”, I said amen.

Which film did you start with, and was it well received by the audience?

I started with Dadin Kowa, that was when the camera was first installed on Arewa24. I appeared in the Haidar channel, and from there things took off.

How many films have you done?

I cannot even remember how many I have done, because I have done a lot.

Will you tell the readers the names of some of the films?

There are; Dadin Kowa, Garwashi, Allura Cikin Ruwa, So Ne, Yaron Gida, Labarina, and many others are true.

Which film was your favorite among the films you have appeared in, and why?

Garwashi is the one we are competing with.

Is there any film that gave you difficulty during the filming, and why?

It was ‘Bakon Halshe’ because I will never forget it, and Sarauniar Mata. Since I have been making films, I have never seen anyone who gave me as much difficulty as them. Sarauniar Mata also had a mountain we climbed and I fell down and my knee was bleeding and the scar is still there, my watch was taken off and a charm I tied to it also came out. Similarly, in Badon Halshe, we go at four o’clock in the morning to film this program, we come home and don’t sleep, and we go again. By God, when I went home after we finished working on this for seven days, I had to drink water for four days.

Is there a film that you have ever appeared in that you later did not know you were in?

I have never been in a film before.

What kind of achievements have you had in film?

There have been many successes, not just a few.

Have you ever faced any challenges in the Kannywood industry since your entry to the present?

Human nature is not without challenges, there are challenges in every profession, but there are also successes. Well, the challenges are not many, since there is mutual understanding between me and people.

Did you take up film as your career?

I took up film as a career, what is good is a big career,

What is your future dream in film?

May God give us luck, and bring us good jobs.

Do you have a mentor in the Kannywood industry?

I don’t have a mentor in the industry.

Which actors impress you in Kannywood, before you entered the industry, and why?

Aisha from Kano, Ibrahim Mandawari, these people really impress me. I watch them and the kind of acting they do impresses me. Because of the words they say and the enlightenment they give.

When you are seen in public, what kind of questions do people ask you?

I am asking questions, I think it would be like Atika’s father, or Bala’s mother in the movie Labari na.

Is there any improvement or development that you think should be brought to the Kannywood industry?

It is nothing more than unity, it is as if we have become one broom, one rope. That is what I want, since our entire profession is one. It should be when one sees another, for example, you will see an actress who has run away and come across an actress but she cannot speak to the other. That is what I am worried about. I want this improvement to be brought, when a hero sees his brother hero, he should speak to him since we are all the same monster, our profession is one. Greet each other and continue to interact with each other, because some don’t.

What advice would you give to those trying to enter the Kannywood industry?

If a woman is not married and comes out, I don’t want to see a girl who is not married and is a virgin and starts a film career. Because if she is happy with money, she will not get married. And if they are going to enter, they should make sure that their brothers are aware of all the rules established by the industry, a person should know this.

Do you have any advice or encouragement for your other Kannywood industry friends?

Let’s unite, son of God, whatever we do in life, let’s unite. That is how we will achieve success.

Do you have any other business after films?

I do my own business at home, I sell scarves and shawls, and veils and hijabs.

Do you have anyone to greet?

I wish my fans well, I wish my parents well, and my other brothers and sisters, my younger brothers, and my brothers and sisters. I wish everyone well, especially my father, and I greet him well. May God grant him a peaceful end.

What would you say to your fans who watch your movies?

They should continue watching and may God reward them well, without them we will continue. Without them, we are unknown. We thank God, I wish my fans who watch our movies well, may God reward them well, may God leave friendship.

We thank you for giving us your time

Thank you too.