Society should stop seeing us as if we are that cheap – Aisha Abubakar Usman

•I am a successful actress by all standards

Aisha Abubakar Usman is a 22-year-old beautiful Kannywood actress who featured in over 30 movies, most of them are A-grade films like ‘Maidalili’, ‘Kubra’, ‘Juyayi’, ‘Kanin Miji’, Blackberry’ and ‘Ahalina’, which she plays the lead role and executive producer of the film. According to the Kannywood diva, acting skills of Ali Nuhu, Adam Zango, Yakubu Mohammed, Halima Atete, Sadik Sani Sadik are what she so much admire. While Salisu Mohammed Officer is her godfather in the industry, she has a lot of admirers in and outside Kannywood, in fact she muted that she will settle down soon with one of the big guys in the industry. On how she made her money, she told ALIYU ASKIRA in this interview that the first cool money she made was when a Lagos based GOTV used her pictures and that of Sadik Sani Sadik on billboards without their permission, they later sued the company and got the sum of N10 million as damages.

Aisha, you featured in more than 30 films and most of them are successful, yet the name of any of these films did not stick to your name, why?
Well, the truth is it is only in Ahalina which is yet to be released that I was given the lead role, secondly it does not mean that I did not distinguish myself for people to call me by the name of the films I featured in, no I think I am okay the way things are, though some people call me barrister, because I want to be a barrister, though I have Diploma in Law anyway from Aminu Kano College of Islamic and Legal Studies.

Tell us about yourself
Well, I am from Kano state, I live with my parents here, both of them are still alive, but I started schooling in Bauchi state and ended up here. I have a Diploma from Aminu Kano College of Islamic and Legal Studies. When I wanted to join Kannywood, honestly my parents did not object to it, and here I am today a successful actress. My godfather in the industry is Salisu Mohammed Officer.

How successful are you?
Well at least I have a house of my own. Also, the issue of one Lagos-based television satellite outfit, GOTV mounted billboards all over the country with my pictures and that of Sadik Sani Sadik without our permission, we then sue them and we got N10 million as damages, after paying legal fees we went home with N3 million naira each. And for the two years that I have been in the industry, financially I am doing fine. My desire this year is to send my mother to the Holy Land for her to perform pilgrimage. I intend to feature in good films, produce some and sponsor some myself.

You are very pretty, especially your sexy eyes and a beautiful shape to match, yet you did not mention plans for marriage, is marriage at the bottom of your plan list?

Well, though I have admirers in and outside Kannywood, a lot of guys have been toasting me, especially for the reason as you put it that I am cute and pretty, but I am into serious relationship right now and the guy is one of the big shots in Kannywood, I will not mention name, but that is the fact. As for when the marriage will take place I don’t know.

Whenever you travel out of Kano for films you normally stay in hotels. Has any of your male colleagues ever sneaked into your room?
Sneak into my room to do what? No it never happened, even the allegation of producers demanding for sex before role has never happened to me. The truth is whenever I am not on location I stay at home, and mind my business.

In spite of the calibre of films you featured in, yet you are not popular why? Is it because like you said you refused to zip down?  
The issue of zipping down does not arise, because nobody has ever tried to harass me sexually. By the way, why is the society seeing us as if we are that cheap? There are thousands of young ladies out there staying in hotels as prostitutes, they sell their body to earn a living yet nobody is tormenting them. Acting to me is as decent as one can think of, some people prefer to be lawyers, journalist, administrators, politicians, labourers, fishermen and women, prostitutes, gamblers and the rest, we choose to act, so people should give us break.

What do you hate in life?
Well, I hate people that gossip or witch hunt, I hate deception, cheating or double standard. If you want to be my lover, don’t deceive me, tell me in black and white that you are poor or rich, I will welcome you. Right now I don’t have enemies in or outside the industry, at 22 I have a long way to go.

Tell us your saddest moment
The recent death of famous Kannywood star, late Rabilu Musa Ibro, is one of them. He was easy going, jovial and a team player the industry. The industry will miss him a lot, the day he died I cried like little baby.

Your happiest moment
When we won our case against GOTV, and went home with few millions. But honestly I distributed substantial part of the money to friends and colleagues. Secondly, the day the film Ahalina will hit the market, I will celebrate it. I have many happy moments to remember.

Tell me those of your colleagues that you admire, their acting skills or what not.
Well, they are many, but I can mention Ali Nuhu, Yakubu Mohammed, Adam A. Zango and Sadik Sani Sadik. As for women, Aishat Aliyu Tsamiya, Halima Atete, myself, Nafisa Abdullahi, Jamila Nagudu and host of others do impress me a lot.
On the domestic side, I like cooking, I like pounded yam and chicken, I like chips and Kunun Tsamiya a lot.

Why is it that you Kannywood actresses and actors don’t make good use of your marriages?
Who says so? It is sad that this is the way the society perceives us. If you marry somebody that is making things difficult for you why not call it quit? But for God sake, many Kannywood actresses and actors got married and stayed put. People should wish us well not the other way round. If I finally settle down, for example, trust me it will be everlasting.

Tell us your idea of the man who you want to marry       
Well, first he must be a Muslim, God fearing, and since it is God that created us, he can be tall, fair or black in complexion. As you can see I am of average height, I will not mind if my man is tall, black, handsome and not necessary too fat.

As a woman, matured one for that matter, don’t you at times feel like telling one of your male colleagues ‘hi lets have fun’?
Well, the society has changed a lot especially with the advent of the social media but quote me anywhere, the highest a lady can go is to show the man a sign and if he understands then he can take up from there, even this I can do only if I want you for a sincere friendship. But as for fun, haba only a prostitute can do that and even in that case she will charge the man certain fee. Like I told you earlier, we are almost hundred percent Muslims in Kannywood as such what people are expecting or thinking we are doing are all tissues of lie and bad belly.

You said earlier that Halima Atete is an actress you admire a lot, why?
Her jealous posture, the way she deal or is dealing with women that they are sharing same husband with, I mean Kishiyoyinta. Look at ‘Dakin Amarya’ and the new version Dakin Amarya, ‘Ana Wata ga Wata’, any woman that is not protective of her husband is to me like animal, love is all about care, jealousy and vigilance. My husband is my property, but if another woman comes around then Zata ga kishi – she will see pepper, but that does not mean I will not welcome second wife or marry a family man from that.