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Ali Nuhu - A king in another kingdom
29 November, 2005 02:08:00
By Victor Akande
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At one end of the street they gathered waiting patiently till he came out and the moment he came out, just like the Hollywood actor on the street of New York they rushed out just to catch a glimpse of the man that they have only been seeing in their box, all waiting in line to get a handshake. And even though they were many, they all got it and as elated as they were, some rushed to call their other colleagues but before they could make it to the scene, alas! The star was gone.
One of the first things that attracts you to him, whether you are a man or a woman, a movie watcher or not is his beauty, even though he his a man, except if I am permitted to use the word his handsomeness. But way beyond this is the bundle of talent that has earned him the best Hausa actor award three times consecutively. He is none other that one of the most popular Hausa film star and Nollywood’s generation next, Ali Nuhu.
Just back London where he had gone to receive his Afro Hollywood award for Best Hausa Actor, I was called upon to have a chat with this young man that I had obviously not met, seen or even heard about. And the only thing that came to my mind was how possible is it going to be talking to a Hausa guy. I wondered if he would be coming with an interpreter as I have presumed that he might not really be fluent in the art of spoken English. And lo and behold after waiting for several hours for his return he came with another young man whom I thought had come to confirm my fears, but to my utter amazement, the reverse was the case.
The chat started and I must confess that I was transfixed at the level of grammar and composure of this young man that I ended up asking him much more question than was demanded.
Expressing his joy at the award he had just won, Ali Nuhu confessed that it is a thing of joy for one’s effort to be appreciated and when such is done internationally, it can only be a sign for greater responsibility.
For one who saw his name on the pages of the newspaper as one of the nominees for the coveted price, Ali couldn’t believe his eyes and never for once believed it was true. But not until when he was contacted and given a letter of confirmation did he believe that what was happening wasn’t a mirage.
But what is his driving force and how has he been able to keep on top of his game. “I try to take scripts that are offbeat because I believes critics are more particular about such movies. These are movies that have a lot of art in them, and the kind of movies that brings accolade to an actor. This is situation where the director is bothered about the story line, the characterization of the actors and the in-depth delivery of the script”
As the interview progressed one thing struck me, this young man apart from knowing what he wants knows where he is going. Having made up his mind to choose to do movies in his own native language, despite the fact that he could have given some of the popular actors down here in the South a run for their money going by his mastery of the English language, Nuhu confessed that it easier to do a movie in one’s language, than in a borrowed one like the English language.
Like every other actor who has to be at location at one time or the other, managing a home is nothing new to this young man who is married with a baby girl. He says of his family “Apart from my baby girl who doesn’t yet understand why daddy has to travel so much, my wife is used to it because even while we courted, which lasted for two years, we hardly saw due to my constant trips. Unlike the normal relationships where you see yourselves every other week, my wife use to see me in three months”
Humility some say is the mother of all virtues and just like an average Hausa man, Ali Nuhu exudes an amount of it. Recognizing his colleagues Abel Mustapha and Adamu Zango’s effort in the last MOPAN award in which the trio were nominated for the best actor category in a keenly contested award, Nuhu expressed joy at winning the award that came as a surprise, knowing fully well that the two other guys, although his junior in the industry really did their best in the nominated films they starred in.
For one who believes that the Nigeria movie industry has come of age and going by the commendations from all around the world, he believes that the industry can still go down if producers, directors and all major stakeholders in the industry don’t start producing quality movies. “It is high time we started thinking quality and not quantity” he said But as popular as he is and having won the best actor award back to back, how much is this young man really worth. “Well the highest fee I have received for an Hausa movie is Seventy thousand naira. But the highest I have received so far is a Hundred thousand naira, for my role in Showdown
Having been married for two years to his heartthrob Memunat Ali Nuhu in an elaborate wedding attended by over ten thousand guests (can you beat that?), Nuhu says one of the problems he faces as an actor is a female fans and it behoves on the actor to be responsible in remaining faithful to his wife while letting his fans know that he is married and a man with responsibility. And with that responsibility in mind, Ali hopes to sponsor his wife who is presently in Bayero University, Kano, undergoing a diploma course to a higher degree program after her diploma course.
A graduate of Geography from the University of Jos with the likes of Jim Iyke, Saint Obi and Domitila, Ali Nuhu is native of Gombe state, born in Maiduguri but grew up in the city of Kano, where he attended primary and secondary before proceeding to the cold city of Jos for his tertiary education.
From his first day in the Telefest program titled Based On A True Story, Ali Nuhu has improved in his art and starred in very popular movies like Sanga, Wosila, Amujadalah and popular English movies like Mama Sunday, Unchained, Showdown, House On Fire, including Shadows, a soap opera.
For him the movie industry has become a part of existence and no other thing can ever be appropriate except acting or the general process of movie production.
Courtesy http://www.newage-online.com/
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