The Kano State Censorship Board has suspended two Kannywood actors, Amina Uba Hassan and Adam Garba, for one year over their alleged involvement in a video said to violate the moral and cultural standards of the state.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Sunday by the board’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Sani Sulaiman, following the circulation of a controversial clip on social media that sparked widespread reactions across Kano State.
According to the board, the content of the video was considered inappropriate and capable of undermining the ethical values the state’s film regulatory framework seeks to uphold. As part of the disciplinary action, both actors have been barred from participating in film productions and related entertainment activities within Kano State throughout the suspension period.
The board stressed that it was acting within its legal powers to regulate the activities of practitioners in the Kannywood industry, warning that anyone who violates the directive could face further sanctions under existing laws.
“The board has the legal authority to suspend any Kannywood practitioner from operating in Kano, and violation of this directive could attract severe penalties under the law,” the statement said.
Chairman of the board, Abba El-Mustapha, urged actors, filmmakers, and other stakeholders in the Kannywood industry to conduct themselves responsibly and uphold the cultural and moral expectations of society.
He warned that actions capable of tarnishing the image of the industry would not be tolerated and called on producers and directors to comply strictly with the suspension order.
El-Mustapha further cautioned that any attempt to disregard the directive would amount to a violation of the board’s regulations and could attract additional disciplinary measures.
The development has added to ongoing debates surrounding content regulation in the Kannywood industry, which operates under Kano State’s strict censorship framework guiding film production and distribution.
Despite growing public reactions to the decision, the board maintained that its primary objective remains the preservation of cultural values and the promotion of professionalism within the entertainment industry in the state.
