Hausa-language cinema, known informally as Kannywood, is the Hausa-language film industry of northern Nigeria. It is based in Kano.
Ali Nuhu Mohammed is a Nigerian actor who is the current managing director of the Nigerian Film Corporation. He was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday 12 January 2024. Before his appointment, he was a prominent Nigerian actor and director. He is married to Maimuna Garba in 2003 and they had 2 children. He acts in both Hausa and English movies, and he is also known as king of Kannywood or Sarki Ali by the media; Kannywood is the Hausa film industry headquartered in Kano, Nigeria. Ali Nuhu has appeared in more than 500 Nollywood and Kannywood films, and earned numerous accolades. Ali Nuhu is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential actors of all time in the history of Hausa Cinema, as well as Nigerian Cinema In terms of audience, size, and income, and he has been described as the most successful Hausa film star in the world. President Bola Tinubu has appointed him as the Managing-Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation.
Hadiza Aliyu, also known as Hadiza Gabon, is a Nigerian professional actress and filmmaker who acts in both Hausa and English movies. She serves as an ambassador for MTN Nigeria and Indomie noodles. She was named best actress at 2013 Best of Nollywood Awards. She won the 2nd Kannywood/MTN Awards in 2014. She is the founder of HAG Foundation.
Nafisat Abdulrahman Abdullahi is a Nigerian actress, film producer, director, and entrepreneur.
Rahama Ibrahim Sadau is a Nigerian actress, filmmaker, and singer. Born and raised in Kaduna, she performed in dancing competitions as a child and during her school years. She rose to fame in late 2013 after joining the Kannywood movie industry with her first movie Gani ga Wane.
Sani Musa Abdullahi, known as Sani DanjaorDanja, is a Nigerian film actor, producer, director, singer, and dancer. He participates in both Kannywood and Nollywood. In April 2018 he was turbaned by the Etsu Nupe, Yahaya Abubaka, as Zakin Arewa. He has featured in numerous Nollywood blockbusters including Battle on bukka street and Wives on strike.
Yakubu Mohammed is a Nigerian actor, producer, director, singer and script writer. He is a Globacom ambassador, SDGs ambassador and at a time, an ambassador for Nescafe Beverage. He has sung over 1000 songs, featured in over 100 Hausa films and more than 40 English films some of which includes; Lionheart, 4th Republic, Sons of the Caliphate and MTV Shuga which earned him City People Entertainment Awards and Nigeria Entertainment Awards.
Nazifi Abdulsalam Yusuf better known as his stage name Nazifi Asnanic is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, director, and producer. He was born and raised in the ancient city of Kano. Nazifi Asnanic, often referred to as the Golden Voice, is recognized as one of the most successful Hausa artists of all time in the history of Kannywood. He has received a number of awards and nominations including City People Entertainment Awards as the best musician in 2014. He was also among the Kannywood stars that received an award by Zamfara State government of Nigeria for their tremendous effort and contribution toward uniting and sustaining Hausa culture. Nazifi Asnanic has featured, produced, and directed numbers of film in Kannywood.
Maryam Yahaya is a Nigerian film actress in the Kannywood industry. She gained recognition for starring in Taraddadi, a movie directed by Elnass Ajenda. For her role, Yahaya was nominated as best promising actress by City People Entertainment Awards in 2017. She was also nominated as best actress by City People Entertainment Awards in 2018.
Nuhu Abdullahi Balarabe is a Nigerian film actor, Producer and Politician born and raised in Kano State. Nuhu is one of the most promising Kannywood actors, who acts in both Hausa and English movies. He has won the best supporting actor in Kannywood at the City People Entertainment Awards in 2015,
Halima Yusuf Atete also known as Halima Atete is a Nigerian film actress and film producer, born and raised in Maiduguri, Borno state. Halima Atete is well known in kannywood film industry for the role she always plays as the mischievous and jealousy-filled role. She joined kannywood in 2012 and made her debut in Asalina, a film that she produced. After her appearance in several movies such as Kona Gari, Asalina, Dakin Amarya, she won best new actress at the City People Entertainment Awards in 2013. She was nominated by the London based news organization African Voice over her excellent performance in the entertainment industry.
Saratu Gidado, popularly known as Daso, was a Nigerian film actress, primarily in the Kannywood film industry. She was known for the role she always played as an aggressive and mischievous actress who defied all odds to rise to stardom. She made her film debut in 2000 in Linzami Da Wuta, produced by Sarauniya Movies. Other hits such as Nagari, Gidauniya, Mashi, and Sansani followed. She affirmed that she liked playing the role of a wicked woman.
Sadiq Sani Sadiq is a Nigerian film actor. In 2012, he appeared in Blood and Henna, a Nigerian film directed by Kenneth Gyang, along with Nafisat Abdullahi and Ali Nuhu. He has received awards and nominations including 2015 Kannywood Awards in jurors award category organized by MTN Nigeria. He was also awarded by the City People Entertainment award in 2014 and 2017. He is married with two children.
Abubakar Bashir Abdulkarim, also known as Abubakar Bashir Maishadda, is a Nigerian film producer who works in the Kannywood film industry. He is the founder of Maishadda Global Resources LTD. He has produced a number of films under his banner, featuring Kannywood stars such as Ali Nuhu, Sadiq Sani Sadiq, Maryam Yahaya, Yakubu Muhammed, and Rahama Sadau, in films like Takanas Ta Kano (2014), Daga Murna (2015), Wutar Kara (2019), Hafeez (2019), Mujadala (2019), Mariya (2019), Ana Dara Ga Dare (2018) and Hauwa Kulu (2019). Maishadda is frequently considered "king of the box office". He received City People Entertainment Awards in 2018 and 2019, and 2015 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards in the best indigenous language category (Hausa).
Sons of the Caliphate is a Nigerian political thriller drama television series created and produced by Dimbo Atiya, directed by Kenneth Gyang and executive produced by Mo Abudu of the Ebonylife TV. It originally aired on Ebonylife TV for two season from 13 October 2016 to 6 February 2018. Season two had a global airing exclusively on Netflix.
Falalu Abubakar Dorayi also known as Falalu A. Dorayi is a Nigerian film director, producer, screenwriter and film actor.
Fati Muhammad is one of the famous and pioneer actress of Hausa film in the Northern Nigerian film industry popularly known as Kannywood. She is regarded as one of the successful Hausa Actresses in the early 2000s. She in 2001 was contracted by Society for Family Health (SFH) and produce a massive sensitization campaign against causes and managing HIV/AIDS. She was sponsored to United Kingdom until left voluntarily after 6 years and went back to Nigeria.
Mansoor is a 2017 Nigerian drama film directed by Ali Nuhu and produced by Naziru Danhajiya. The film stars Umar M Shareef in the title role with Maryam Yahya, Ali Nuhu, Abba Elmustapha, and Baballe Hayatu in supporting roles.
Izzar So is a Nigerian Hausa-language cinema series created by Bakori TV and directed by Lawan Ahmad. It stars Lawan Ahmad, Ali Nuhu, Aisha Najamu, Minal Ahmad, and Ali Dawayya as the main cast. The series follows the lives of different characters who face various challenges and struggles in their personal and professional lives. It is considered the most-watched Hausa series currently, with over 1.9 million views on YouTube. It has also won several awards at local and international film festivals.
