Northern Film Industry: Manko And The Audio-Visual Chronicles Of Nupe History
By Jibrin B. Jibrin
Published: November 19, 2006
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These days one looks back with nostalgia to those times when grandma and us used to sit in the courtyard with neighbours’ children for that special treat called Eachin (folktales). Then we were always excited by the signs of approaching evening. We would hurriedly carry out our individual chores in time for that entertaining session. That was the only medium of entertainment and recreation then. It was surely a time of retrospection and fine-tuning our future, as we learned decades later. Then Eachin unknown to us shaped our characters and prepared us as members of that society at that time.

Humans are dynamic and so is their society. The advent of electricity was followed by the attention-seizing television, then Video. And now internet has changed or rather outshone grandma’s Eachin.

The film in 21st century may seek to challenge our culture and re-frame our identities, seek to re-configurate our history, compromise or shape our identities in the face of changing world. The film industry in Lagos, otherwise known as Nollywood, became vibrant in the early 90s as a result of the motivation and enthusiasm of a number of young men in quest to explore new ways of business as well as entertainment in Nigeria. The emergence of the film industry fosters a new dimension to our culture of crises.

Instinctively, the Lagos upsurge motivated Kano or rather Hausa film industry that drew its resources from that already vibrant popular Kano market literature. This industry admittedly, fired up youths’ imagination, creativity and enthusiasms. These films are popular in the north, it creates jobs for thousand of youths and indeed improves their living standard. This of course is not to say the industry is devoid of shortcomings, as it often clashes with the values and cultures of the north.

Second to the Hausa industry in the north is the undisputable Nupe industry of Niger State. The Nupes are one of the largest ethnic groups in the North, after Hausa and Fulani. The Nupe industry started at the time when Hausa film is witnessing its resurgence in the mid 90s. The industry then was marred by lack of funds, technical skills and touch of professionalism. This abject state was brought to an end in 2004/2005 as it was re-invigorated and refocused by information technology whiz kid, Alhaji Sagir Mohammed, the C.E.O of Leo-shukrah corporation.

Aware of the importance of films in educating, enlightening and liberating the people, he threw in all his weight into the hitherto ailing and sluggish industry. Nupe films are now produced frequently which can compete with its contemporary from other part of the country with vigor, skills, professional input, latest film technology and of course well knitted and packaged stories. Films like Ndabako, Nyizagi, Gbatawo, and Zawangi are some of best produced films. These films offer occasional employment for the youths and film actors of Niger State. In the wake of all these activities came the biggest one. The first Nupe Epic film, Manko, unarguably the first biggest film out of Niger State and maybe northern Nigeria, with over three hundred major and minor casts.

Manko is a true historical story of bravery, betrayal, love for God, inhumanity of man to man and arrogance of power. The film is divided into two segments: The emergence of Nupe cultural hero era and Fulani era. Nupe history is chronicled in the film from the birth and emergence of that cultural hero called Tsoede or Edegi who is fathered by a prince of Igala who came hunting in Nupe land when he accidentally came to Nku in 1464. He met a beautiful daughter of the chief, they fell in love and got pregnant. As she was about to deliver, urgent message came from Igala land that the incumbent king of Igala had passed away and was called upon to come and take over the throne. As he departed, he left a ring, a fetter and a talisman for his unborn child. The child was later delivered and was named A’amagi, meaning nephew to the chief of Nku who happened to be the reigning chief of Nku.

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