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Hausa Movie Industry And Copyright Violation: A Way Forward By Madiha Zarruk No. 135 Magarbi Street, Area B.Z Samaru Main Campus, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (29th June, 2006)
It is very sad that majority of Hausa people are happy with Hausa movies and the industry itself who keep on preaching " it's a way of preserving and promoting culture" not minding the fact that these so called movies, popularly called "Hausa FIM" are gradually deteriorating the rich culture of the Hausa man and replacing it with an alien culture.
We should know it is a good thing for the Hausa's to preserve and promote their own identity just like others are doing, i.e. whenever it comes to entertainment such as Kanny Wood. But the major problem with these movies is copying of Indian films and the likes; this is an infringement of copyright policy and violation of civic responsibility. In fact, this is a big problem that has come to stay if care is not taken. Directors, producers, actors, musicians and singers have the major blames because they fail to understand the rules and regulations governing copyright in Nigeria.
Sorry to say, but copyright violation is a piracy which is punishable by imprisonment. It could be true that human beings learn through imitation but not via direct copying of other people's ideas and creative works. Because when one tries to imitate someone's work, one usually ends up having nothing original. Even though, the Indian movies have played an important role in the birth of Hausa films and are still a great inspiration to the Hausa film makers. For instance, we know how the name Kanny Wood came about; just the way we knew how Indian Bolly Wood basically came from Holly Wood.
Therefore, one wonders why sometimes or most of the time, Hausa film features songs and in most cases the whole movie is a complete carbon copy of someone's story, not the "original film maker's" initiative. For example, Indian lyrics [songs] and stories and in some cases even American songs and our local Nigerian hip hop [Nija music] are not left out. The film titted 'Zabbari' which was directed and produced by Ail Nuhu, one of Hausa most popular and acclaimed actor is a typical example, because the film is an almost exact copy of 'Khal Ho Na Ho', an Indian film co-authored and stared by Sharuhk Khan and Pretti Zinta. In fact, this is not the only manipulation by Ali Nuhu. 'So' another movie that reigned in the late nineties was also a copy of Yash Chopra's 'Mohabbatein'. Another Hausa film titled 'Gatse' featured two songs that were copied from the film 'Kuch Kuchi Hotahe' and 'Khabi Kushi Khabi Gham' - two of the Bolly Wood's greatest hits of the year 2000. The most annoying part of these imitations is that they are easily seen everywhere. For instance, songs such as 'Dilemma' by two American artists Nelly and Kelly Roland, 'Lover Girl' by the beautiful half American and Half Indian artist Alisha, 'Thong Song' by The Dru Hill's Sisqo were not left out of this mess. Another song copied Ali Nuhu 'Turn Me On' was an original version by the Caribbean singer Kevin Lyttle. Others were Awilo, Bob Marley songs and Mad Melon's Popular 'Danfo Driver' that hit our T.V screens by Kanny Wood best jester Rabilu Musa popularly called Dan Ibro. In view of the above therefore, we have watched with painful hearts, one of Holly Wood's high budgeted movie 'Titanic'- a story based on true life happening copied by one Ahmed S. Nuhu, was the Hausa Titanic 'Masoyiya'.
It is important to know that, even if they (the film makers) have acquired the license to reproduce these materials or works, it is doing no good but more harm to the viewers. As mentioned earlier, these movies are altering with the beautiful culture, norms and values of the Hausa people. And Culture is an important aspect of humanity which most be retained, promoted and enhanced positively in order to protect unwanted act of immorality amongst the society. And this can only be achieved by discarding and/ or avoiding that part of culture which has little or no importance at all. We should safeguard our culture by that which will move us forward, but not with the one that is unacceptable and incomprehensible.
Finally, I want our film makers to please stop copying other people's ideas. It is also the media's responsibility to publicize, accommodate and sell good ideas through creativity, though there is great challenge ahead, but we have seen great works of art done by remarkable people such as 'Nagari na kowa , Alheri, Ki Yarda Da Ni, Sangaya, Gidauniya, Sansani' e.tc., we do hope for better ones in the near future because we have what it takes to succeed. Talent, I think is naturally given to every individual. So the sky is our limit. Stop copying directly or indirectly. Copyright contravention is a crime that damages reputation.
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