The lesson I learnt from recent sickness – Maryam Yahaya
By Saleh INUWA, Kano
Popular Kannywood actress Maryam Yahaya who almost lost her life last year through a terrible sickness has revealed that the world is not as rosy as people think because, during her sickness, even those close to her prayed that she never recovered from the illness that almost rendered her life and career useless.
Maryam Yahaya, born on May 5th, 1998 in Kano made her debut in Kannywood when she featured in one of Ali Nuhu’s successful films “Mansoor” as the lead actress alongside Umar M. Shariff, both of them featured in the film as students of a private school that were envied by their colleagues because of their expensive ways of life.
“Even though I nursed the ambition to be an actress since when I was young, it had not materialized until I was invited by the CEO of FKD Productions, Ali Nuhu, to feature in the film Mansoor as a supporting actress. But when we went for shooting, Bilkisu Shema who was to play the lead role did not turn up, the producer made some minor changes on the script and asked me to play the lead role which I did perfectly well and that made me an instant star.”
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Few months after my stardom, I fell sick and couldn’t go out for almost a year. I lost the hope of recovering. Most of my savings, I spent on medication, and at a point, reports started filtering from social media that I was gradually dying, even though my close friends in and outside the industry had continued visiting me.
I later discovered that some use to visit me to see my condition and gossip about it, some were those very close to me and this annoyed and frustrated me, Maryam narrated.
When her sickness was given wider publicity in the local and foreign press, the Kano State government sent two directors to visit her and see how government can assist, one was an adviser on Islamic Affairs to Ganduje, Ali Baba Fagge, and the second was Ismail Na Abba Afakallah, the director, Kano Films and Censorship Board. After their visits, it was reported in the media that one of them said it’s not the industry that caused my sickness, rather destiny it’s what destiny had for me, as if I contracted a dreaded sickness, and this again frustrated me more.
Similarly, she added in the telephone interview she had with Neptune Prime correspondent in Kano that many people attributed her sickness to waywardness, ruthless way of life, indecent moral activities and other social behaviour, but as God may have it, she has fully recovered and has joined Kannywood again as a vibrant actress.
Speaking further, she said, “Do you remember when someone came from Yobe to see me? And threatened to poison himself if we didn’t meet?
“Someone used that to quote in a story that I was sick because I ignored a young man who came from Yobe two years ago to see me in Kano. My sickness is far from that. I assume if somebody is to come from a far place to see me, then that person should at least get my number from my colleagues and call me. You know the cases of kidnapping and others that are prevalent in recent times?
She added that at the age of 24, though she has many admirers in her life, she ws yet to choose a future partner.
“I was able to perform Hajj and lesser Hajj; my acting career is at its peak ; I also run other businesses here and there; and some members of my family also need financial assistance from me, so my life is just beginning, I don’t want to rush into other issues and make a mistake, or get married and only to be divorced, especially with the accusation from the society that we are cheap and don’t stay in marriage”, she said.
When Neptune Prime correspondent asked her whether she has enemies in the industry, she replied, “Why not, even when I was sick, some people prayed for me to die.
“Iam also into a group campaigning for Senator Tinubu to be President, this aspect has created a serious crack in Kannywood. we have the Rarara Group, Naziru Ahmad has his group, and we have the Tijjani Gandu group working for NNPP, so even the state government is now having a running battle with our group, so one has to be watching his shadows.”
On her immediate plans, she said, “Well, I can read the Qur’an from beginning to end, so I already have Islamic education, I will enrol for the part-time programme at a university. I also want to be producing my films in the future because when I fell sick, it took serious effort before I was able to return to acting.
“Many producers nearly dump me but I am grateful to my parents, my mentors in the industry and my devotion to God. Maryam Yahaya is in great shape and the sky is my limit. I hope and pray that people will understand the difference between our life on stage and our private life outside the industry.
“Finally, as media, please promote us and criticize us when we are wrong instead of always looking at the negative side of our profession. There are many opportunities in Kannywood; investors should come in and invest, we are also happy, and companies are now engaging us for commercials.
“Kaduna state is also building a film village for Kannywood members to improve their skills. Generally, things are improving for actors and actresses and we hope to be fully stimulated in society.”
