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Rahama Sadau's ban for 'hugging' lays bare Nigeria's religious divides Outrage over actor Rahama Sadau's hug highlights Nigeria's divisions
(about 1 hour later)
She is a hugely popular actor. He is a hugely popular rapper. But when Rahama Sadau and ClassiQ briefly touched in a music video released this month in northern Nigeria, their fleeting embrace set off a storm of controversy that has revealed the deep divides in the country.She is a hugely popular actor. He is a hugely popular rapper. But when Rahama Sadau and ClassiQ briefly touched in a music video released this month in northern Nigeria, their fleeting embrace set off a storm of controversy that has revealed the deep divides in the country.
Sadau, 22, found herself lambasted by conservative commentators and banned from working in the predominantly Muslim north of Nigeria.Sadau, 22, found herself lambasted by conservative commentators and banned from working in the predominantly Muslim north of Nigeria.
“Rahama has been banned for life from acting … This is as a result of her recent immoral appearance in a certain video song where she appeared ... hugging and cuddling,” said Salisu Mohammed, the head of the Motion Picture Practitioner’s Association of Nigeria, based in Kano state.“Rahama has been banned for life from acting … This is as a result of her recent immoral appearance in a certain video song where she appeared ... hugging and cuddling,” said Salisu Mohammed, the head of the Motion Picture Practitioner’s Association of Nigeria, based in Kano state.
The actor apologised for any offence she might have caused but called for a “more forgiving and tolerant” attitude.The actor apologised for any offence she might have caused but called for a “more forgiving and tolerant” attitude.
The northern Hausa-language film industry is only one part of the vast Nigerian movie business. Dubbed “Nollywood”, but divided along linguistic and cultural lines, it claims to be the second largest in the world, producing 2,000 films a year. Only Bollywood, the Indian film industry, which has been a huge influence on its Nigerian counterpart, produces more.The northern Hausa-language film industry is only one part of the vast Nigerian movie business. Dubbed “Nollywood”, but divided along linguistic and cultural lines, it claims to be the second largest in the world, producing 2,000 films a year. Only Bollywood, the Indian film industry, which has been a huge influence on its Nigerian counterpart, produces more.
The most popular themes are love, revenge, marriage, families and betrayal. But if in the south films depict wealthy middle-aged women courting friends of their teenage sons, and students in skimpy dress seducing their teachers, films in the north obey far more conservative conventions. Twerking bikini-clad women and physical contact between sexes are notably absent.The most popular themes are love, revenge, marriage, families and betrayal. But if in the south films depict wealthy middle-aged women courting friends of their teenage sons, and students in skimpy dress seducing their teachers, films in the north obey far more conservative conventions. Twerking bikini-clad women and physical contact between sexes are notably absent.
The contrast reflects the stark differences between areas with a predominantly Christian population and those that are largely Muslim.The contrast reflects the stark differences between areas with a predominantly Christian population and those that are largely Muslim.
“There are divergent trends throughout Nigeria right now,” said Elizabeth Donnelly, an expert at London’s Chatham House thinktank. “The changes in parts of the south are moving much faster than in the north. Nigeria is a fragmented country in many respects, with political, cultural and economic trajectories moving in different directions at a different pace.”“There are divergent trends throughout Nigeria right now,” said Elizabeth Donnelly, an expert at London’s Chatham House thinktank. “The changes in parts of the south are moving much faster than in the north. Nigeria is a fragmented country in many respects, with political, cultural and economic trajectories moving in different directions at a different pace.”
The offending clip starring Sadau shows the actor, wearing traditional clothes, demurely selling vegetables from a cart in a local market. ClassiQ’s bashful teasing convinces her to join him in a walk on nearby railway tracks. In this unpromising environment, love apparently blossoms. Now wearing jeans and a short-sleeved T-shirt, though also a headscarf, Sadau walks hand in hand with the rapper and, very fleetingly, appears to embrace him.The offending clip starring Sadau shows the actor, wearing traditional clothes, demurely selling vegetables from a cart in a local market. ClassiQ’s bashful teasing convinces her to join him in a walk on nearby railway tracks. In this unpromising environment, love apparently blossoms. Now wearing jeans and a short-sleeved T-shirt, though also a headscarf, Sadau walks hand in hand with the rapper and, very fleetingly, appears to embrace him.
The reaction was immediate and noisy. Some actors backed the ban. Others said the punishment was too harsh. On social media, comments were bitter and polarised.The reaction was immediate and noisy. Some actors backed the ban. Others said the punishment was too harsh. On social media, comments were bitter and polarised.
“Rahama has crossed the boundary line this time around. The video is all revealing and this is not proper for a Muslim girl to go this extreme in an open video,” a local newspaper quoted one fan as saying.“Rahama has crossed the boundary line this time around. The video is all revealing and this is not proper for a Muslim girl to go this extreme in an open video,” a local newspaper quoted one fan as saying.
There have been a series of clashes between film-makers and religious conservatives in the north of Nigeria. In August, clerics stopped a $10m plan to build a “film village” outside Kano, saying it would undermine Islamic values.There have been a series of clashes between film-makers and religious conservatives in the north of Nigeria. In August, clerics stopped a $10m plan to build a “film village” outside Kano, saying it would undermine Islamic values.
Salisu Idris, a Muslim cleric in Kano, told AFP news agency that religious leaders in the city were “happy that the film-makers have realised the truth of what we have been insisting they do: sanitise the film business, which promotes immoral values among our youth”.Salisu Idris, a Muslim cleric in Kano, told AFP news agency that religious leaders in the city were “happy that the film-makers have realised the truth of what we have been insisting they do: sanitise the film business, which promotes immoral values among our youth”.
He hoped the sanction on Sadau would be a “deterrent to others”.He hoped the sanction on Sadau would be a “deterrent to others”.
The exact proportion of Muslims and Christians in Nigeria is unclear, but the communities are thought to be roughly equal in number. The former British protectorate gained independence in 1960 and has a population of more than 180 million.The exact proportion of Muslims and Christians in Nigeria is unclear, but the communities are thought to be roughly equal in number. The former British protectorate gained independence in 1960 and has a population of more than 180 million.
“It’s almost as though the episode is an emblem of the division within the country,” said John Campbell, a former US ambassador to Nigeria and expert at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. Sadau “was suspended for essentially hugging someone. In most parts of the world that would hardly prompt a reaction.”“It’s almost as though the episode is an emblem of the division within the country,” said John Campbell, a former US ambassador to Nigeria and expert at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. Sadau “was suspended for essentially hugging someone. In most parts of the world that would hardly prompt a reaction.”
The sectarian fracture line exacerbates ethnic and economic divisions too. These have long generated tensions that central government has struggled to overcome. Communities in the north are often jealous of the development and influence of the south, while many in the south fear the spread of Islam.The sectarian fracture line exacerbates ethnic and economic divisions too. These have long generated tensions that central government has struggled to overcome. Communities in the north are often jealous of the development and influence of the south, while many in the south fear the spread of Islam.
“The south tends to be extremely suspicious of alleged northern Islamic hegemony,” said Campbell. “This kind of incident plays into this narrative.”“The south tends to be extremely suspicious of alleged northern Islamic hegemony,” said Campbell. “This kind of incident plays into this narrative.”
The banning of Sadau has also revealed the broader penetration in the north of Nigeria of conservative strands of Islam, at the expense of more tolerant and moderate practices influenced by mystic traditions and even animism.The banning of Sadau has also revealed the broader penetration in the north of Nigeria of conservative strands of Islam, at the expense of more tolerant and moderate practices influenced by mystic traditions and even animism.
International attention has focused on the extremists of the Boko Haram movement – which has led a violent insurgency in the north-east since 2009 – but has ignored the broader trends towards a more rigorous and intolerant practice of the faith, Campbell said.International attention has focused on the extremists of the Boko Haram movement – which has led a violent insurgency in the north-east since 2009 – but has ignored the broader trends towards a more rigorous and intolerant practice of the faith, Campbell said.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who won power in 2015 on a platform of defeating extremism and eradicating corruption, has successfully rolled back earlier gains by Boko Haram. Last week, the group released 21 of nearly 300 schoolgirls abducted in 2014.President Muhammadu Buhari, who won power in 2015 on a platform of defeating extremism and eradicating corruption, has successfully rolled back earlier gains by Boko Haram. Last week, the group released 21 of nearly 300 schoolgirls abducted in 2014.
But the former military head of state has launched his own campaign to reform the personal morality of Nigerian citizens.But the former military head of state has launched his own campaign to reform the personal morality of Nigerian citizens.
“Nigeria today is passing through a challenging moment where hardly anything works in a normal manner,” Buhari said in Abuja, the capital, last month. “Many have attributed this phenomenon to the total breakdown of our core values over the years … The long-cherished and time honoured, time-tested virtues … have given way in the main to dishonesty, indolence, unbridled corruption and widespread impunity.”“Nigeria today is passing through a challenging moment where hardly anything works in a normal manner,” Buhari said in Abuja, the capital, last month. “Many have attributed this phenomenon to the total breakdown of our core values over the years … The long-cherished and time honoured, time-tested virtues … have given way in the main to dishonesty, indolence, unbridled corruption and widespread impunity.”
Last week, he caused a stir when he reacted to his wife’s criticism of his leadership by saying she “belongs to my kitchen and my living room, and the other room”, at a press conference in Berlin.Last week, he caused a stir when he reacted to his wife’s criticism of his leadership by saying she “belongs to my kitchen and my living room, and the other room”, at a press conference in Berlin.
Some commentators have argued that censorship laws and Nigeria’s “prudish” attitude towards sex has stopped many film-makers tackling themes of sexuality in a realistic way in the south as well as the north.Some commentators have argued that censorship laws and Nigeria’s “prudish” attitude towards sex has stopped many film-makers tackling themes of sexuality in a realistic way in the south as well as the north.
“Most movies in Nigeria are either romantic movies or comedies. In a nation where the youth demography is the largest, there are few movies for young people to watch that directly appeal to them,” said an editorial on Pulse, a news website.“Most movies in Nigeria are either romantic movies or comedies. In a nation where the youth demography is the largest, there are few movies for young people to watch that directly appeal to them,” said an editorial on Pulse, a news website.
Nollywood producers do, however, have an eye for a commercial opportunity. Within days of her ban in the north, Sadau was hired by a film company in the south to appear in a new English-language 13-part political drama entitled Sons of the Caliphate.Nollywood producers do, however, have an eye for a commercial opportunity. Within days of her ban in the north, Sadau was hired by a film company in the south to appear in a new English-language 13-part political drama entitled Sons of the Caliphate.
She will play the role of “a confident, intelligent, witty and composed northern ‘chick’ who is stylish, elegant and yet traditional”.She will play the role of “a confident, intelligent, witty and composed northern ‘chick’ who is stylish, elegant and yet traditional”.