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Unreported World S50E01 Censored Film Queens of Nigeria
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00:00Unreported World is back with a new series and tonight we're from Nigeria
00:03where women are risking their reputations, careers and sometimes their families
00:08to succeed in one of the world's largest film industries.
00:11In the conservative north, actresses and directors face strict Sharia law
00:16and powerful censors who can end careers overnight.
00:20Anya Pop travels from Kano's tightly controlled Cannywood
00:23to the booming studios of Nollywood in the south
00:26to meet the women determined to tell their own stories
00:29and rewrite the script in a male-dominated industry.
00:34It's loud, love story driven and scandal ridden.
00:41Yet in northern Nigeria's film industry, Cannywood, women work under extreme censorship.
00:47Why would she be using that film and trying to destroy the image of Ausa?
00:52No, no, no.
00:53Where getting it wrong can mean jail or industry exile.
00:57It's not all about, okay, how good your movie is, it's how well can you protect yourself too.
01:02So when they have everything to lose...
01:05In the process of me being an actress, I lose my family.
01:09What fuels these trailblazing women?
01:12But how would you give birth if you didn't open your legs?
01:15Thank you! Thank you!
01:18Risking it all to make their name in a man's world.
01:22Whoever you get to see in Cannywood is rebellious.
01:44The ancient city of Cano, once a key stop on the Trans-Saharan trade route, is now a major hub
01:50for movies.
01:51Cannywood is northern Nigeria's own answer to Hollywood and reaches over 80 million Hausa speakers across Africa.
02:00Here, all productions must follow a strict Islamic moral code and uphold Hausa values, where men hold the power.
02:07Yet some women are trying to rewrite the script.
02:16We've joined Mansoura Issa, one of Cannywood's first female directors, on her set, Capacity, a female-focused series.
02:27Corse, Corse, Corse, Corse, Corse, Corse, Corse, Corse, Corse, Corse!
02:31What's up, Corse?
02:49It's a big force, it's a big force.
02:50TCC's age, you kinda who are now, what are you doing?
02:52What are you doing?
02:52What are you doing right now?
02:541, 2, 3, 4...
02:54With over 20 years in Caniwood, Mansoura is one of just a handful of female directors
03:00registered here.
03:10She's mindful of strict censorship rules where showing immoral themes like adultery, prostitution
03:16or criminality can lead to filming bans or even prison.
03:20The cast is almost exclusively female. It's actually about women empowering women and
03:27in a society where men call the shots could be perceived as an act of rebellion.
03:34During a wardrobe change, Mansoura explains how her films try to counter male narratives.
03:40It's time for us to stop sitting back and allowing them to mold us the way they want.
03:46And I hope with this series, Capacity, a lot of women will come out and discuss the issue
03:53that they are going through. But we have to be mindful of our dialogues.
03:57Because even the dialogue censorship board can censor it at any time.
04:01If we are to talk about, okay, we want equality, we want equal share with men,
04:07it's going to be very difficult for it to pass, yes.
04:10Capacity!
04:13Capacity!
04:14Matam parahi!
04:16Inama damasi capacity!
04:18Matam parahi!
04:23Terrorism and a volatile political and religious backdrop has blighted northern Nigeria
04:28for the last few decades. Religious leaders argues that sanitising how the popular culture
04:33helps maintain the peace.
04:42We are standing outside this huge 3000 seat cinema in Kanu.
04:46But like all big cinemas across northern Nigeria, it's long been shut.
04:51People stopped coming, a mixture of fear of Boko Haram, but also because of the introduction of Sharia law,
04:57which dissuades people, strangers especially, from sitting together in the dark,
05:02which means it now sits as this empty relic of all that's been lost here.
05:08The proclamation of Sharia law in Kanu in 2000 came with deadly violence and a drive to cleanse house
05:15the culture of western influences.
05:19Mansoura takes us to an old VHS rental store.
05:23So in Malakato you can find all our old movies.
05:26Cannywood was accused of spreading immorality and with the formation of the censorship board in 2001,
05:32filmmakers had to align with pure Islamic values.
05:36This shop is like a museum of house her movie.
05:40And that's why it's very close to our hearts.
05:43I've featured in more than 300 movies.
05:45Wow.
05:46This is me and this is me.
05:50Nudity, foul language, intimacy and even touching the opposite sex were all banned.
05:56You can see there is a lot of films that before that there is no even scarves.
06:01Yeah, this seems quite not the sort of outfit that if you submitted a film now with your sort of...
06:06Never.
06:07...sharing like that.
06:08Never.
06:09Never.
06:10They will accept it.
06:11I have to go back and remove that scene.
06:14Would they refer to this as nudity?
06:16Yes.
06:16Like Sangaya, there are some scenes that they touch hands.
06:21During the early upheaval, morality police raids and vigilante crowds targeted Cannywood creators, burning DVD shops and hunting down actors.
06:30This is the really controversial.
06:32This is the really controversial.
06:32Controversial movie.
06:33It was so controversial.
06:36I was sent packing from Kano because of that movie.
06:40Why?
06:41Because in that movie there is this girl, she got pregnant out of wedlock.
06:46They are looking for my house to burn my house.
06:49And this thing happens, not only me.
06:52It has happened to a lot of people.
06:54The same religious scrutiny continues today, restricting the kind of stories filmmakers can tell.
07:01We are limited to love story and dance it.
07:05I love him.
07:05He love me.
07:06Daddy, I want to marry him and dance it.
07:08They will allow you to release that movie.
07:09And this is giving me headache.
07:14Strict moral codes also mean that women who choose to act can pay a high price.
07:19The winner is Amina Shehu.
07:28Amina Shehu is one of Cannywood's rising stars and just won a Best Actress award.
07:34Actress of dear.
07:35Amazing.
07:36Just 20, 25.
07:38Wow.
07:39And how did that feel when you win that?
07:41I cried because this is one of the day I've been waiting for.
07:47I never thought I would get one.
07:50In the typical Cannywood family drama, Amina plays a 16-year-old married to a man 30 years
07:56her senior.
07:59But because of the way he used to treat her, she had an attack and died.
08:05Wow, that's making her a bit of a dirty.
08:07What's it like being a woman in northern Nigeria?
08:10As a female and a Muslim, you should just get married.
08:18Be in the kitchen.
08:20Have kids.
08:21Just be your husband.
08:23You don't have your auntie.
08:25Has your family always been supportive of you acting in Cannywood?
08:29I come from a very, very strict family.
08:33They think me being an actress will spoil my family's name and their reputation.
08:39Like, I shouldn't be acting.
08:42Acting is prohibited.
08:44I just want to be successful.
08:45And I just want to stand on my own.
08:50But refusing marriage and pursuing her independence has come at a cost.
08:55Okay.
08:58What's making you upset?
09:00Is it about your family?
09:05Difficult.
09:06Sorry.
09:12So in the process of me being an actress, I lose my family.
09:17Which is very, very bad.
09:27In Cano State, most women are still expected to seek their husband's permission to work or leave the home.
09:33Ending many actresses' careers.
09:39Mansoura is recently divorced and financially independent.
09:43It means despite an industry with little money, she's able to self-fund the stories that are important to her.
09:49Hello.
09:50Hello.
09:51Hi.
09:51Welcome.
09:54Today she's finalising her latest film, Joda, which she directed and stars in.
10:10It still has to pass the eyes of the censors, with one crucial scene worrying her.
10:15So this is the scene I'm talking about.
10:18So I'm scared they'll ask me to remove this.
10:20What is it about it, then?
10:22So it's about a woman giving birth.
10:24I'm sure they'll say that I should remove this.
10:26Even though you're wearing trousers?
10:28Yes.
10:28Even when I'm wearing skirts, I have wrapper, I have everything.
10:32There's no...
10:33All my body is covered.
10:37What did you say?
10:42No, he was asking me, is it true?
10:44That's how giving birth is.
10:47Joda is based on a true story about Mansoura's friend, who unknowingly contracted HIV from her
10:53husband and passed it on to her baby at birth.
10:56So for you, it's not just entertainment, it's educational.
10:59It's educational.
11:02Mansoura will face a censorship board later this week, who have recently expanded their powers dramatically.
11:16Caniwood actress Samha Inua was banned last year for one of her posts on social media.
11:23Are you able to talk through exactly what they accused you of doing and how you kind of
11:27found out that you were going to be banned for a year?
11:34Do you still have the video?
11:40Can we see it?
11:42The censorship board banned her for what they describe as crude dressing and vulgar displays.
12:01And how does that make you fail or you just resign?
12:03And how does that make you fail or you just resign?
12:12Caniwood actress Samha Inua is a very good writer.
12:16For some women, succeeding in Caniwood takes humour and resilience, but it's making it big
12:21outside that unlocks true fame and ambition.
12:25Hello.
12:26Hi there.
12:27Superstar Marion Booth has crossed from Caniwood to Nollywood, Nigeria's mega film industry
12:32in the south, starring in the Oscar shortlisted Milkmaid.
12:37I don't follow rules.
12:40Troublemaker.
12:40I'm not a troublemaker.
12:42Whoever you get to see in Caniwood is rebellious.
12:46Because you have to be rebellious to be a Northern actress in the first place.
12:52That defines everything.
12:57The ladies face lots of trauma.
13:00They go through so much, trust me.
13:03Everyone is fighting a battle mentally.
13:08They'll be like, stop acting, go get married.
13:13Mariam is in high demand.
13:15Today she's doing a lucrative brand promotion.
13:17She wants to inspire other women and girls to dream big.
13:22I just want to show these young girls how capable they are to reach their goals.
13:27So someone needs to make a change.
13:29And I feel like that change begins with me.
13:33Some have no choice but to drive change from within.
13:36Today it's D-Day for Mansoura's film, Joda.
13:39So I'm scared that they'll ask me to remove that part.
13:43And which is the soul of the movie.
13:45It's not all about, okay, how good your movie is.
13:48It's how well can you protect yourself too.
13:56These censors vet all cannywood productions.
14:02And that they buy feminine day,
14:04I'm gonna account society.
14:06That happened day,
14:07I was a man come on and fit.
14:10Okay.
14:11See my dad.
14:12Yeah.
14:15I buy in the side.
14:17See you.
14:18So what's up?
14:21At the knees?
14:24Why does your wonderful marriage come in?
14:25For the descending Willen?
14:26You magnificent?
14:29We know, it's great.
14:31Why do you have a dream with one man when we come to?
14:33Yes.
14:33It's fine if he had to grow up in his life.
14:35Well, his will speak slowly.
14:40He's dead.
14:42Well, he's dead.
14:43How do I become very happy?
14:47They said no.
14:49They said no.
15:02So what is not allowed is the way I open my legs, that's what they don't want.
15:07But how would you give birth if you didn't open your legs?
15:11Thank you! Thank you!
15:14The men can't think otherwise, so we have to protect the men not to think otherwise in the movie.
15:21Do you think women viewers would be offended by it?
15:26Or is it mainly a male audience?
15:27No, it's the men.
15:27It's allowed for women.
15:34How are you doing?
15:35I'm not happy about it.
15:37The men, they can fight it.
15:39We women cannot fight it.
15:41Because we have to protect ourselves at the same time.
15:44It's not easy.
15:46I'm not happy about it.
15:48I'm not happy about it.
15:50It's okay.
15:52It's okay.
15:56It's okay.
16:05It's okay.
16:06It's not easy.
16:07It's okay.
16:09It's alright.
16:13It's okay.
16:20It's okay.
16:22It's okay.
16:23It's okay.
16:30Male-dominated cannywood dictates Hausa women's public image, defining their dress, behavior
16:36and self-expression. We've been invited to speak with the head of the censorship board,
16:42Abba El Mustapha, a prolific cannywood producer and actor.
16:46Do you feel like your role is to protect Hausa culture?
16:51This agency is protecting the image of our religion and our, you know, tradition, custom
16:58of Hausa. Who is there in charge is their brother, their son and the father. Anything that is
17:06very, very sensitive, don't portray it in a movie. Anything that can brings about topic
17:10of discussion negatively in the society, please keep it aside. Don't go beyond the boundary.
17:17Don't go beyond the ethics of Islam. Don't go beyond the teachings of our custom tradition
17:23and values. Do you feel like in the industry, men are held to the same standard as women?
17:29All those things that we are trying to restrict happens, happens with women. There you can see
17:38we don't have much problem with men. All we are doing is let us see what does Islam say
17:43about at least a woman. Can you explain to us why Samha was suspended for a year?
17:50There is that regulation that don't misuse your social media account. So why will she be using
17:59that film and trying to destroy the image of Hausa? No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
18:03Were you making an example of her? Oh, yeah. And unless I have achieved. And I told you the reason.
18:08Yeah. We just use her as a scapegoat.
18:16Canny Wood Films make up an estimated 30% of Nigeria's movie production. It's dwarfed by Nollywood
18:24in the largely Christian South, where women are powering the industry. Please come in. You're welcome
18:29to my home. Beautiful. Thank you. Mo Abudu is Nigeria's most eminent female media mogul and operates
18:37free of any moral censorship. I'm changing from my slippers into my shoes. She built Ebony Life,
18:44a media empire with its own cinema chain that's produced over 5,000 hours of content. Ebony Life
18:51cinemas went from being number 40 on the list of cinemas in Nigeria to today being literally number one.
19:00Honestly, I mean, I'm just, I'm in awe. In the Ebony Life multiplexes, they produce award-winning shows
19:09for Netflix, Sony and cinema. The wedding party, it was the biggest box office success for many,
19:17many years in Nigeria. A Sons of the Caliphate is an authentic story set in northern Nigeria. It was one
19:23of
19:24the first Hauser series to ever make it onto Netflix. Very authentic, amazing cast, beautifully
19:30shot, costuming locations. How would the way that you make a northern film differ from perhaps how they
19:35would make films? Well, I make it have broader appeal so that a wider audience can consume it and
19:44understand it. It just gives it that, you know, that reach, that broadness that it deserves.
19:50Thank you. We've been invited to join a networking lunch with some of the top female actresses,
19:57producers and creatives in Nollywood. Are women setting the bar in south Nigeria? In terms of the
20:04film industry? In the southwest, 100%. Or in Nollywood? Yes. But how is it that right now, if you look
20:11at the
20:1110 highest grossing films in Nollywood? At least the first seven women? That deserves a wonderful club. I'm sorry. I'm
20:20sorry.
20:21Cracky! Cracky! Cracky! Everybody on this table is here because they're also at the top of their game.
20:31Is the reason that women are so successful in this industry because you're all pushing each other up?
20:37Collaboration. Yes, it's important. I don't think everybody supports everybody. Everybody here
20:43supports each other. With collaboration, you can go 10 times further and 10 times faster than if you
20:49do it alone. Despite the difference in religion and culture, women here still feel they have to
20:54work much harder to achieve success. We've spent a lot of time in the north where women there say that,
21:00you know, men don't take them seriously and they've really got to fight for any opportunity.
21:04It's the same in the cells. Men, Nigerian men are Nigerian men.
21:08It's the same. Wherever they are in Nigeria, they are the same. It's the same.
21:12Right? At the end of the day, our men are resentful of successful women.
21:18Bam! 100%. They are resentful. Truth.
21:21I guess maybe the difference there to here is they still very much hold the key to power.
21:25Well, nobody gives you the key. You have to take it.
21:30Women filmmakers across Nigeria are pushing boundaries to excel. And despite facing different
21:36barriers to success, their aim is to set a new bar for women. We're back with Mansoura in Kano.
21:43We've seen how difficult things are in Kaniwood. Getting films passed, getting funding. Why do you carry on?
21:51Passion. Passion. Love. Because you believe one day things might get better. A lot of artists that are
21:59from like Kaniwood, the future in some of the Nollywood, Bollywood, Holywood, you understand,
22:05that would be the greatest achievements for them. And at the minute, does it feel like that's close or...?
22:11Yeah. Not close at all. And why is it important for you to keep doing films that push the boundaries
22:23on what's usually coming in Kaniwood when it comes at such a personal cost to you?
22:28So, I try to push women. I try to show women that they are strong and they can be even
22:33more than
22:34what they think they are.
22:38Mansoura's drive to encourage other women comes from her own struggles.
22:43After my divorce, I went to hell. I was having suicidal depression and it wasn't easy for me to
22:53be able to overcome it. I cannot allow other people to tell me what to do or how to live
23:01my life.
23:02But for Mansoura, staying strong and inspiring other women to be self-empowered is only half the job.
23:10I'm the mother of boys. I have like, I'm total, let's say, 15, 16.
23:16As well as her own children, Mansoura has informally adopted 11 boys. She's hopeful about the next generation.
23:24Are you teaching these boys to be good men?
23:27Yeah, I'm doing that and they are learning from me too. So, they are all good men.
23:31I want their happiness and at the same time, I want my happiness too.
23:35So, we got to ask her.
23:36I want them to go to class.ória
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