The coalition of Kannywood Guilds and Associations in collaboration with Arewa Filmmakers Association of Nigeria (AFMAN) under the leadership of Motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN) explained why they boycotted the Zuma International Film Festival 2022 (ZUFF) currently going on in Abuja.
The event organized by Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) in collaboration with Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to further enhance the festival aimed at carrying all Nigerians along.
Dr. Ahmad Muhammad Sarari, the national president (MOPPAN) explained this in an open press statement on adressed to the minister of information and cuture on wednesday.
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He numerated that for deliberate violations of fundamental human rights as citizens, coupled with cautious marginalization of filmmakers from the northern part of the country, Kannywood is forced out from the Nation’s biggest celebrated entertainment event.
“The event was deliberately fixed on Sallah Day, which, apart from being a festive day for all Muslims all over the word, is also a public holiday, meant to honor and celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan”.
The president added that the criteria of selection is biased “As 16th February 2022, NFC appointed our National President of MOPPAN as Chairman, Local Organizing Committee (LOC), Kano and Kaduna axis, with two other members for the objective of mobilizing stakeholders from the northern part of the country to effectively participate in the Festival.”
“The letter directed the committee to forward its detailed proposal on how to execute the task given. Kannywood under Dr. Sarari, humbly honoured the directives given by NFC, and forwarded all necessary information”.
“Kannywood is yet to get formal response, or any form of correspondences from the organizers, despite series publications the NFC made on national dailies, informing Nigerians that Kannywood is also part of the organizing team, while LOC axis from the southern part of the country (Lagos), was carried along”. He added.
Dr. Ahmad reiterates that “NFC sent a correspondence to one of the Kannywood’s highly respected elders, and legendary actors, Alhaji Ibrahim Mandawari, informing him that he was one of those recipients for this year’s LifeTime Achievement Award at the Festival, shortly before the opening ceremony, Mandawari was shocked to be informed by the organizers that he is no longer part and consequently was removed from the list without any genuine reason while others were from other part of the country were maintained.
Kannywood is the Northern axis of the Nigerian movie/Music industry, which is based in Kano State and has over the years, contributed immensely in job creation, youth empowerment, mobilization and above all creating awareness in line with government activities, social responsibilities, cultural reorientation and entertainment.
