Portal:African cinema/Selected article/7

Kannywood is the sobriquet for the Hausa-language cinema of Northern Nigeria and based in the northern state of Kano. It is a part of the larger Nigerian cinema, known as Nollywood, which includes other production centres producing films in many other Nigerian languages. The name "Kannywood" is a portmanteau derived from the city name of Kano and Hollywood. "Kannywood" was coined in 1999 by Sunusi Shehu Daneji, publisher of Tauraruwa ("Star") Magazine to capture the growing Hausa video film scene from which point it became the popular reference term for the film industry of Northern Nigeria. The term preceded the label Nollywood which originated with New York Times journalist Norimitsu Onishi in a 2001 article about the Lagos-based film industry.

The Hausa language cinema emerged in the 1960s with productions out of RTV Kaduna and Radio Kaduna. Veterans like Dalhatu Bawa and Kasimu Yero pioneered popular dramas, and in the 70's and 80's, Hausa Comedy was introduced by the likes of Usman Baba Pategi and Mamman Ladan. The 1990s saw a dramatic change in Hausa-language cinema in an effort to attract larger audiences drawn to Bollywood movies. Kannywood, a cinematic synthesis of Indian and Hausa culture emerged and became extremely popular. Turmin Danya ("The Draw"), 1990, is usually cited as the first commercially successful Kannywood film and followed by others such as Gimbiya Fatima, In Da So Da Kauna, Munkar, Badakala and Kiyarda Da Ni.

Kano, a predominantly Muslim state, enforces both Sharia and secular laws with implications on Kannywood productions. For example the state censorship’s unit  does not allow male and female actors to touch even if portraying a husband and wife. In 2024, state authorities announced that films could not portray cross dressing, and in reaction to the gang related violence in the North, prohibit depictions of violence.

Notable Kannywood actors include Ali Nuhu, Fati Muhammad, Rahama Sadau, and Rabilu Musa Ibiro.