The Kano State Censorship Board has suspended 22 popular Hausa film series, including Labarina and Dadin Kowa, for failing to follow the state’s mandatory censorship and approval procedures.
The Executive Secretary of the Board, Abba El-Mustapha, announced the suspension after a management meeting earlier this week. The decision takes immediate effect.
According to the Board’s Information Officer, Abdullahi Sani Sulaiman, the affected films were released or aired without undergoing the required screening by the board.
“The Board has suspended 22 Hausa film series for violating our guidelines, which require all films to be submitted for censorship before public release,” Sulaiman said in a statement.
Some of the affected titles include Dakin Amarya, Mashahuri, Gidan Sarauta, Tawakkaltu, Mijina, Manyan Mata, Shahadar Nabila, Kishiyata, and Rigar Aro, among others.
The board has directed all producers to stop airing or streaming the suspended content on TV and online platforms. They must submit their films for approval between Monday, 19th May and Sunday, 25th May 2025.
Sulaiman warned that failure to comply within the deadline will attract legal action.
The Board also urged the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), television stations, and digital platforms to cooperate in ensuring that only approved content is broadcast or streamed in Kano State.
The action highlights the ongoing tension between creative expression and regulatory oversight in the state’s vibrant film industry, known as Kannywood.
