Dan Hausa Is Rewriting Kannywood’s Playbook on His Own Terms

“I didn’t know there was a Kannywood director like this.” That was the line that first made me curious about Ibrahim Kamilu.

Better known as Dan Hausa, the Kano-born filmmaker is carving his own path in Kannywood. With bold visuals, layered stories, and a strong cultural pulse, he’s become one of the standout voices in Northern Nigeria’s Hausa-language film scene.

In this interview with *The Nollywood Reporter*, he talks about why he started directing his own scripts, how he broke into an industry known for gatekeeping, and what he believes Kannywood needs to grow.

Raised in Kano, the cultural and religious heart of Northern Nigeria, Dan Hausa discovered his love for filmmaking early. It quickly became more than a passion—it became part of who he is.

Determined to sharpen his craft, he trained at High Definition Film Academy (HDFA) in Abuja, where he learned the practical and technical sides of filmmaking. He also completed a screenwriting course at SAE Institute and took part in the *Filmmaking for Impact* training, a U.S. Embassy–sponsored initiative focused on socially driven storytelling.

Once he found his footing in Kannywood’s cinematic landscape, Dan Hausa set out to shift the status quo—challenging storytelling norms and raising production standards. Today, his work doesn’t just entertain—it pushes boundaries and sparks conversations.

In this exclusive interview, he shares his journey through Kannywood, his ambition to rewrite how stories are told in the industry, and why he insists on doing things his own way, despite cultural and distribution roadblocks.

Testing Waters and Why Directing

Dan Hausa’s love for storytelling didn’t begin with directing. It started with writing. He was a screenwriter first—but one constantly disappointed by how others interpreted his work.

“I would sit down and craft the screenplay, get it right, but when they turned it into a feature, it always felt like part of the story was missing,” he said.

Tired of the gap between script and screen, he decided to try directing himself. That led to his debut feature film, “Kulba Na Barna,” in 2017. But the experience wasn’t exactly smooth.

“I realised that I had a lot to learn,” he admitted. “Like the directors I had criticised, I was no better at first.” Still, it sparked something deeper. “Since then, it has been a journey of growth, learning and transformation.”

Interestingly, even though directing brought him recognition, screenwriting remains his first love. “Sincerely speaking, I love screenwriting more than directing,” he said.

Navigating Kannywood, Genres and Mentors

While some directors might have figured out their ‘super power’ genre in the Nigerian film industry. For instance, at the mention of biopics and epics, Bolanle Austen-Peters comes to mind. Likewise, Daniel Oriah is most known for his flair for directing thrillers.

When asked what genre of films he is most passionate about, Dan Hausa admits that he is still in a phase of figuring out what works best and what doesn’t. He is yet to come to that conclusion. “That is a little challenging to answer because personally, I’m young. I’m trying to find my way and find my right hand on genres that I love most and are passionate about,” he says.

For now, he has directed many genres from drama to action thrillers to horror to romance including adventure. “So, I am trying to find my way. Out of these genres, I will sit back and remember the experience and figure out what I love best. Truly, I don’t know that now. I am just exploring,” he responded, acknowledging the age that can afford him the luxury to do that.

On his journey in Kannywood, the “Wata Shida” director said it has been nothing short of impact and transformation. For a rookie, who didn’t have any acclaimed director to take his hands, Dan Hausa criticised the inaccessibility of the Nigerian film industry, especially to first-timers.

“I entered the industry from an unexpected part. I didn’t learn under any known director. Many closed the door because of how the entertainment industry can be. All over the industry, it can be difficult to penetrate. You can’t just enter but I didn’t wait for an opportunity, I created them with resilience and commitment.

I gradually changed the way things were done in Kannywood. I saw the weakness in how Kannywood films were made and I used that weakness to change how stories were told and shot. I brought in a modern approach both technically and creatively. This helped me break through the industry and eventually forced them to open the door for me,”

He acknowledged the crucial role of mentors like Nasiru B. Mohammed and TY Shaba, who stood by his dreams when others doubted him. Their faith in his potential led them to invest their resources in a collaboration project that birthed his debut.

“I always say that Knowledge is Power and my journey is an example. Everyone has their time and this is mine. I just want to make it impactful,” he added.

Cinematic Accolades in Kannywood

Dan Hausa’s prominence in Kannywood leans solely on his constellation of accolades. An unmissable storytelling feat that shot him to cinematic stardom. Notably, at the Kano Entertainment Award, Dan Hausa’s comedy-drama series “Mijin Hajiya” won the coveted Best Director prize, stealing the spotlight in 2024.

“Lulu Da Andalu” series is one of Dan Hausa’s remarkable works, earning an accolade at the Arewa5050 Awards. It is a testament of the Kannywood director’s unrelenting passion for authentic indigenous stories.

“Lulu Da Andalu” also got him recognised at the Kaduna International Film Festival in the Best Indigenous Hausa Film Award and an Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) nomination nod in the same category.

Most recently, his work 2024 action thriller “Tataburza,” is in a face-off with Indigenous films like Toka Mcbaror’s “Kakanda,” Femi Adebayo’s “Seven Doors,” Salisu Jos’ “Asalina” and Zaharadeen Kwangila’s “Coloured Marriage.” Once again, he gets a recognition nod at the festival for his work alongside notable Nigerian filmmakers.

Dan Hausa’s directorial journey in Kannywood is nothing short of extraordinary. From his gripping dramas like “Bakon Yanayi” to the riotous comedy of “Mijin Hajiya,” and the moving narrative of “Lulu Da Andalu,” he continues to solidify his place as a leading force in the industry.

With each project, the film director advocates for the need for authentic storytelling by crafting unique narratives and changing the standards of what is obtainable in Kannywood. Since his active year in 2017 till date, each of his cinematic works reflects his undoubted creativity. The journey continues one film at a time.

Kannywood’s Place in The Nigerian Film Landscape

“I believe Kannywood has always been overlooked in the broader light of the Nigerian film industry. That is a fact but I also believe that change is on arrival,” Dan Hausa says frankly.

While blaming the Kannywood practitioners, he draws a comparison with a similar pattern in film industries like Bollywood, proffering solutions to elevate the industry.

“We have seen similar patterns in other film industries like Bollywood. They were overlooked until they started producing quality content and that couldn’t be denied. Quality content speaks always.

So, the same can happen with Kannywood. We need to invest more in collaborations. We need to adjust our production standards. We need to focus on telling compelling stories with authenticity. Kannywood will not only gain recognition but will also thrive locally and internationally,” he expressed.

The director would love to change many things in Kannywood as far as the Nigerian Cinematic space is concerned. However, one thing he finds most important to change is the lack of vocational knowledge in the industry.

“My dream in Kannywood is to see an industry where everyone truly understands their role and even understands the roles of others. With knowledge, the quality of our films will rise. Collaborations will improve and Kannywood will reach new heights.”

Distribution Challenge in Kannywood and Nigerian Film Industry

The distribution problem in the Nigerian film industry is a pressing issue that dominates discussions at every turn, and the Kannywood industry is no exception.

It is often not enough to produce films but platforms to get them the audience is a significant part of the filmmaking chain.

Speaking on this, Dan Hausa highlights this as “the biggest challenge we have,” and how it scares away potential investors in Kannywood. Kannywood has zero distribution strategy and it worries him that it makes it hard for filmmakers like him to thrive.

“Nobody in his sane mind will put his money where there’s no profit,” he said. For him, getting mentors to invest in his project is a game of luck but how lucky can people really get?

“I’m sorry to say but the industry, I think we are misplacing priority. These are things we are supposed to join hands together in back-to-back meetings and meet appropriate government officials. However, many filmmakers are focused on fighting each other. This is an industry that could help the economy of the nation,” he said.

The Role of Culture in Shaping Stories in Kannywood

Films are far more than mere entertainment; they are vital cultural expressions that reflect the beliefs and values of societies. In Kannywood films, culture and religion are not just themes. They are fundamental pillars that are deeply respected and integral to the storytelling.

On whether these elements stifled his creativity as a film director, Dan Hausa acknowledged that firstly everyone in the industry is stuck with the challenge. However, navigating the challenge is what makes the difference.

“The soft landing for it is that I am hundred percent Hausa and a Muslim.  This means I will have a reduction of the challenge. Even if someone will challenge me, he knows that deep down in his heart, I am his brother both culturally and religiously. If I want to shoot anything, I just do it and wait for the backlash,”

He shared an example with the opening of his acclaimed film “Tataburza.” The trailer captured both exterior and interior shots of a church building. According to Dan Hausa, he was aware of the religious backlash but chose to move forward with this artistic direction.

“In Kannywood films, a man is not allowed to touch a woman and vice versa. That is standard but not in my films. I follow the international standards. If you challenge me that it is not culturally right, my defence would be that I am doing my job,” he asserted.

Upcoming Film Projects

Concluding his thoughts, he hinted on dates for his upcoming project “Wata Shida” and “Amaryar Lalle” both set for official release in the last week of June or early July.

“I can confidently say that “Wata Shida” is one of my best. I don’t have a release date yet but it should be out last week of June or first week of July. “Wata Shida” means “Six Months.” Theme of the story is based on the period of six months.

It is a story about Zara, who escaped a forceful marriage but she cannot return back to her home unless she has a plan. She decided to get a man to marry her in disguise to fight for her father’s properties,” he shared.

He described his project “Amaryar Lalle” in collaboration with Rahama Sadau, as one of his biggest collaborations. Dan Hausa is excited to share with the world what he has delivered on his upcoming projects.