By Shamsudeen Abubakar
What happened at the scene of Season 3 Episode 11 of the famous Kannywood Footage; Labarina, directed by Aminu Serra that went viral is not something new considering the way celebrities in the industry consider themselves more civilized than anyone. They look at anybody outside their artistic performance crew as worthless.
However, mostly all scenes where the mandates or works of journalists/journalism need to be acted, Kannywood does it off the head without consulting professionals for advice on how it should be done. Film production is under journalism as they both operate under section 39 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria which gives freedom of speech and expression without interference so to speak.
Personally, I felt humiliated when I watched the scene in the movie in question where the actor-journalist promptly intrude into Naziru Sarkin Waka’s office and asked him questions. Sadly, there the claimed reporter, or let me say the director displayed vividly something closer to total ignorance of journalism. This is because, people like Sarkin Waka who has been distastefully arrogant and always feeling being the best among their kins, reporters are not in any way encourage to their office for an interview without a prior highlight of what the setting will look like. Obviously, going the other way round is not in line with journalism’s professional code of conduct and doing that, means one is quack and lacks professional ethics on how to do the job. Before getting to interview a celebrity like this, one must ask the interviewee appointment at his/her convenient time and give out highlights on the topic to be discussed. Thus, the work of journalism is systematically organized and objective.
Unfortunately, the actor-journalist gave him a midget and naively posed questions to the interviewee and as it will surely be expected by a journalistic oriented mind, he (Naziru) arrogantly replied with some ridiculing words. This is a clear indication that both the interviewer and the interviewee as directed are ignoramus on the meaning of journalism which refers to the act of gathering, verifying and reporting accurate and objective accounts of events by media organizations with the sole aim of satisfying the curiosity and inquisitiveness of their audience. Hence, like every field of endeavor, journalism also has its own uniqueness in how it operates and violating them often gives birth to the likes of the above outcomes.
To my own dismay, Nazir Sarkin Waka should not have been permitted by his director to utter such degrading words as “Give him the transport fee” as the Journalism profession is far beyond begging. The director should know that for a reporter to attend a position of coming to interview certain personalities he/she must be knowledgeable and have professional experience on how to approach people depending on their societal, social and religious status. Moreover, the haves in our society should also remember that arrogance is the first sin that descended our ancestral father from heaven down to earth. Humbly, they should be very careful of letting their wealth fuel their ego. Humbleness is the key to greatness whereas boastfulness is the path to astray and regrets.
Therefore the National Film and Censorship Board should be ensuring that whenever the need to mimic actions of whatever profession is on the table, the film industry must consult professionals on the said profession in other to do it right. In addition, the Nigeria Press Council and Nigeria Union of Journalists, especially; Kano state chapter, should be reminded that this is high time to be taking serious action against anybody considering filming the Journalism profession as a worthless field of endeavor.
Warningly, the director of Labarina, Malam Aminu Serra, he should understand that “Aikin Jarida ba Maula bane kamar yadda masu maula suka saba”. In fact, Journalism refers to as the fourth estate of the realm and Journalists are the mirror through which the people see themselves getting knowledge, information and enlightenment across every heterogeneous diverse society. And also in the theatre field, depending on the defenseless were they are often regarded to be a cow that gives milk to its calves.
Finally, although film production can not be translated to reality, respect has to be shown. Therefore, director Aminu Serra should come publicly and apologize to the concerned authorities and the union leaders with the pledge that such disrespect against the profession will not be repeated.
Shamsudeen Abubakar is a Bauchi Freedom Radio Correspondent and can be reached via [email protected] or via 09030658375
