Nigerian actress Rahama Sadau has finally apologised to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, for her role in a music video which earned her a ban from Kannywood, the Hausa film industry, last year.
She spoke on Tuesday night in a Hausa programme, “Ku Karkade Kunnuwan Ku” (Give Me Your Ears) on a popular FM station in Kano, Radio Rahama, the actress vowed that “such will never happen again.”
Sadau was expelled from Kannywood when the music video of a Jos-based hip-hop artiste, ClassiQ, showing her in amorous positions, went viral.
The Motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN), the umbrella body of Hausa film practitioners, held an emergency meeting on October 2, 2016 over the video and summarily expelled the actress.
In a press statement, the association’s secretary, Salisu Muhammad Officer, said the action was “as a result of her recent immoral appearance in a certain video song where she appeared in series of visuals (video and pictorial) hugging and cuddling the music artiste ClassiQ in his newly released video.”
What followed was a storm of controversy, with the actress apologising to MOPPAN at first but later boasting that her sack from the industry was a blessing because it had opened many doors for her.
She has in the last year appeared in several Nollywood movies after a trip to the U.S. on the invitation of American singer Akon and Nollywood director Jet Amata.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, she described the ban as “a stepping stone,” adding, “I am grateful because it has opened a lot of doors because a lot of people didn’t know me until the ban happened.”
But in her interview on Tuesday night, the actress was remorseful over the ClassiQ video and apologised profusely to the “whole people of Kano state” and the Kannywood leadership.
She said, “I wish to explain myself over what happened in the past which angered many people and caused such a storm. So, I wish to apologise over what happened.”
The actress said she did not make this type of public apology because people were emotional over the issue at that time.
“My silence at that time was only due to the fact that I did not want to talk because everybody was so incensed, especially the leaders.
“As such, I am now apologising to all and sundry, including my colleagues; His Royal Highness the Emir of Kano, His Excellency the Governor of Kano state, and anyone affected; I am so sorry. God’s willing, such will never happen again.
“Similarly, I wish to appreciate the support of my fans and everyone else.
“I am reiterating my apology to the leadership of our industry, my colleagues and anyone affected.”
On the question whether she has now resumed fully in Kannywood, she answered, “God’s willing.”
Asked to comment on her trip to the United States soon after the ban was announced, she said, “I only travelled to America but did not move to stay there. I went and acted in a movie the way every other artiste goes everywhere to do.”
A source told Fim Magazine that the apology and radio interview were arranged by the notable Hausa and Nollywood actor Ali Nuhu in order to prepare for the eventual withdrawal of the ban on Rahama Sadau by the Kannywood leadership.
Nuhu was the person who first brought Sadau into Kannywood and now serves as her mentor.
“It was Ali Nuhu who called up the presenter of the ‘Ku Karkade Kunnuwa’ programme and begged him to interview Rahama and also air the interview this very night,” the source said.
The source added that Ali Nuhu “must be up to something”, hence the urgency of his request to the radio station.
