By Atoyebi Nike
The Kano State Censorship Board has announced the suspension of 22 Hausa film series for violating mandatory content approval protocols, marking a sweeping regulatory crackdown on Kannywood’s top productions.
The decision, revealed in a statement on Monday, May 19, 2025, followed a high-level management meeting and consultations with key stakeholders in the state’s entertainment sector.
According to the statement signed by the Board’s Information Officer, Abdullahi Sulaiman, the affected films were distributed without undergoing the board’s mandatory censorship process, contravening existing regulatory laws.
Executive Secretary of the Board, Abba El-Mustapha, approved the immediate suspension of the titles, which include some of the most popular series in Northern Nigeria such as Dakin Amarya, Labarina, Dadin Kowa, Gidan Sarauta, and Manyan Mata.
“These titles failed to comply with the requirements mandating all films to be submitted for approval before being produced, marketed, streamed, or broadcast,” the statement said.
Other suspended series include Gwarwashi, Mashahuri, Wasiyya, Tawakkaltu, Mijina, Wani Zamani, Mallaka, Kudin Ruwa, Boka Ko Malam, Wayasan Gobe, Rana Dubu, Fatake, Jamilun Jiddan, Shahadar Nabila, Tabarmar Kishiyata, and Rigar Aro.
The Board warned all content creators and producers to immediately cease airing or streaming these titles and submit them for censorship between May 19 and May 25, 2025, or face legal consequences.
The directive also urged support from television stations and the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in enforcing compliance and promoting professionalism within the Kannywood industry.
“This enforcement is part of our broader efforts to sanitize the film industry and ensure that cultural and moral values are upheld in Hausa-language content,” the Board stated.
The announcement has sparked renewed public debate over the balance between artistic freedom and regulatory oversight, especially in a region where cinema plays a central role in cultural expression.
