Suwaiba Abubakar alias, Makauniya joined the Kannywood industry in 2008 with a very strong desire to be a successful actress, but unfortunately, it was at the period that the Maryam Hiyana sex scandal hit the industry. She quietly went back to her state of origin, Katsina State having lost hope in the industry.
The actress who is 32 years of age was once married but the union lasted for only one year and it packed up, there was no child involved. Suwaiba said her former husband provided her with all necessities of life, shelter, good feeding, clothing and care but, yet there is something he lacks, which Suwaiba said is private and she is not in a hurry to disclose to the public.
Educationally she read up to secondary school level, and in Kannywood, she had her bit of sexual harassment. One popular Kannywood stakeholder, she said once went to her house and told her in black and white that, he will make her a star if she will sleep with him in which she refused and left her fate in hands of God.
“I want to get a God-fearing person that will marry me and take care of me but the truth is I am scared of men. On two different occasions, some guys proposed to me but when the wedding plans drew nearer, they took to their heels, they betrayed me.
“I can swear by any holy book that no female actress has ever approached me for a woman to woman affair, but on the other hand I was once approached for sex by a producer and I told the guy to back off and vowed to make it on my own.”
“I came into the industry during the Maryam Hiyana sex scandal. The hit movie that was supposed to launch me to stardom, is called “Makauniya” but I acted in glasses as a blind lady and most people did not recognize me.
Suwaiba Abubakar Makauniya spoke to Neptune Prime’s correspondent, Saleh Inuwa in Kano and below are the full details of the interview:
EXCERPTS OF THE INTERVIEW
Neptune Prime: Tell us a bit about yourself, your age, qualifications and some of the films you appeared in?
Makauniya: Well I am a divorcee, I was married before but after one year the marriage crashed with no issue involved. I am from Kastina State. My first film was Awarwasa but it was released after my second film Makauniya was out, but as you can see I am not blind but people call me Suwaiba Makauniya. In the course of shooting films, I visited Abuja, Kaduna, Katsina, Jigawa and of course Kano the home of Kannywood.
NP: If you are to advise Kannywood members what areas do you want to be corrected about acting in Kannywood?
Makauniya: Well I am not in a position to influence anything here, our leaders, decide and run the industry the way they like. But to tell the truth, there was a time when I was still fresh in the industry that one of the big guys in the industry approached me and told me to sleep with him, and that in return, he will make me a star, and I refused. As for a woman to woman, there is nothing like that to my knowledge, but I always do hear about this dirty issue in the industry.
NP: You said you were married before you joined the industry; to be a star why did you reject the offer made to you on a platter of romance?
Makauniya: Morally I am not corrupt, well at my age of course it is natural that at times I feel like having a man around me but I have ways of overcoming it like fasting or reading holy books. The industry has changed, now you have to bring sureties and fill a bond form before you join the industry, then the issue of censoring films before releasing it into the market has also brought about sanity.
NP: Did you had it easy joining the industry?
Makauniya: Yes, after all, we are here to educate and create awareness about what is happening in society. I had and still have tremendous respect for those in the industry but I never involve myself in romance with producers, directors or follow actors. Like I told you I am a divorcee, I married in Dutsinma before, but after one year the marriage packed up the guy is okay and I did not lack anything, but we parted and the reason is private to me. I have spent eleven years in the industry and I want to settle down again. Presently I am staying on my own in kano, and I am ready to be even a fourth wife.
NP: Tell us the actors and the actresses that impress you most in the industry?
Makauniya: Almost all of them, but when I joined the industry my stars were Maryam Jankunne, and Hamisu Iyantama but now I admire Ladidi Fagge and Tahir Fagge, a lot. As for me, I am still very much in the industry my last film is Ranan Jumma’a, it was shot a few years ago. Right now I am also into many films that are still in the making, film acting is the only job I know and all I got in life are from film proceeds.
NP: Would you allow your children to join Kannywood and who is your godfather in Kannywood?
Makauniyua: Whoever cares for me is my godfather, and as for my children why not? I will allow them, encourage them and pray for them, I have no fear of what is happening in the industry. It’s a decent profession, though I don’t have a house or car, I have landed properties that I acquired through acting, I thank God and my profession.
NP: I am sure you are aware of your beauty, and you said you left your husband’s house about eleven years ago are you saying you don’t have suitors, I mean admirers.
Makaniya: Honestly, suitors have been coming but funny enough most of them are after my body. There are those that we reached the stage of fixing a date for our wedding, I can remember two instances but at the eleventh hour, they will disappear. I am now scared of men, you know Hausa people said if you are once betrayed you will be extra careful next time that is what I am doing.
NP: In terms of trying to settle down again and the disappointment you are getting don’t you think your first husband may be responsible?
Makauniya: Capital no. Don’t blame him and I am sure he will not want me to come back, we love each other so passionately but we had to separate, the reason still remains secret to the two of us.
NP: Let’s call a spade a spade he is not satisfying you, abi?
Makauniya: Long laughter, paused, well its personal to us, long laughter again.
NP: Do you like politics?
Makauniya: No, but because of Kwankwaso yes. He has changed a lot of things in Kano, people now have confidence in politicians. As for whether if he proposes to me, I will accept, haba my dear even without asking me you can guess my answer but that is not the issue now, my prayer is for him to be president of Nigeria in 2023 or in future.
NP: What do you when you are not on location?
Makauniya: I pray, and sleep. You also asked what I hate about the industry, I hate to hear that an actress or actor, director, producer, is involved in a dirty scandal that will affect our corporate image. Like the Maryam Hiyana scandal up till now, I refused to watch the so-called adult film, it’s haram to watch a fellow human being naked or to watch a blue film.
NP: Even with your husband?
Makauniya: With my husband why not and let me say this, I will never act nude for any amount, it’s un-Islamic. How will you feel if your children see it but as a housewife, my husband is free to see me naked same with me. As for whether as a divorcee, I may have temptation I mean desire, well I am human and in good health but whenever such comes up I have the solution to it, which is to fast or read holy books to put off my feelings
NP: If after this interview this interviewer proposes to you, what will you say?
Makauniya: Long laughter, I will say yes because you can foot my bill.
