In a public statement, Mai Martaba’s director clarified that he had never made such claims in any interview, attributing the misunderstanding to remarks he made at the Nollywood in Hollywood event in Los Angeles. Prominent Nigerian filmmaker Prince Daniel Aboki has refuted claims suggesting he faced rejection in Kannywood due to his religion or in Nollywood because of his northern roots.
Aboki explained that his comments were intended to shed light on the segmentation within Nigeria’s film industry and the challenges of navigating both Kannywood and Nollywood. He expressed gratitude to Kannywood’s industry practitioners and audience for their steadfast support during Mai Martaba’s cinema run. “For clarity, Kannywood has never rejected me on the basis of ethnicity or religion. In fact, it has been my greatest pillar of support as a filmmaker,” he emphasized.
The filmmaker further clarified that while his work was sometimes viewed as either Nollywood by Kannywood or Kannywood by Nollywood, these perceptions were never rooted in religious or ethnic bias. He also highlighted his ongoing mission to create job opportunities for youth and challenge the negative stereotypes surrounding Northern Nigeria. “I remain committed to working with my colleagues and the founding fathers of Kannywood to elevate the standard of our industry—telling our stories to the world and creating employment opportunities for our youth,” he said.
Aboki reaffirmed his dedication to advancing Kannywood by collaborating with industry veterans and promoting northern stories on a global stage.