Director of the Hausa epic film Mai Martaba, Prince Daniel, has denied comments credited to him in the media that both Kannywood and Nollywood rejected him on the basis of his religion and region respectively.
Mai Martaba is Nigeria’s entry for this year’s Oscars, chosen by the Nigerian Official Selection Committee for the Best International Feature Film category of the Academy Awards.
However, reacting to the media reports, the director said he never granted any interview making such claims.
The reports, he said, appeared to have stemmed from a misinterpretation of his remarks during a recent event in Los Angeles, California.
Daniel, also known as Aboki, said: “My attention has been drawn to some publications with headlines suggesting that Kannywood rejected me because of my religion and Nollywood because of my region. First of all, I did not grant any interview to any newspaper or publication in relation to this matter.”
According to him, during a question-and-answer session at the Nollywood In Hollywood event earlier this month in Los Angeles, he discussed the challenges faced while producing Mai Martaba and the journey to the Oscars.
Among the difficulties he mentioned were security concerns while filming in the Northwest and financial constraints, particularly as a new director working with emerging actors.
He ssid during this discussion, he mentioned how the industry seemed divided in its perception of him and his work.
“At some point, the Kannywood segment of the industry seemed to view us as Nollywood, while Nollywood also saw us as Kannywood, simply because I am from the North,” said Daniel, adding that his statement was misinterpreted.
He reaffirmed his deep connection with Kannywood, saying, “For clarity, Kannywood has never rejected me on the basis of ethnicity or religion. In fact, it has been my greatest pillar of support as a filmmaker.”
The award-winning director further pointed out the overwhelming support he received from audiences during his film’s cinema exposure and from industry practitioners, both veterans and newcomers alike.
He added: “I say with every sense of responsibility that I am a Nigerian filmmaker, though of northern extraction. I reside in Kano, where I practise my craft, springboarding from Kannywood. I have enjoyed immense support here, with no prejudice whatsoever.”
Daniel emphasised his commitment to the growth of the industry and to changing narratives about the North, adding, “I remain committed to working with my colleagues and the founding fathers of Kannywood to elevate the standard of our industry—telling our stories to the world and creating employment opportunities for our youth, far from the stereotypical narrative of the North as being synonymous with conflict and banditry.”
