GagWatch

Back in August, an amateur video of a Nigerian film actress in a sex scene prompted an outcry in the mainly Muslim state of Kano and led to 17 actors - who had no connection to the video - being expelled from the Kano state Filmmakers’ Association for being “immoral.”

A month an a half later, the Kano State Censorship Board is still milking this for all it’s worth, extending the suspension earlier imposed on film production in the state from three to six months and reeling out new restrictive measures to check the film industry.

Addressing a press briefing on Friday, the new executive secretary of the board, Malam Abubakar Rabo Abdulkarim, explained that the extension of the suspension became necessary in order to enable his administration introduce new measures for the improvement of film production in the state, adding that the policy would be vigorously monitored by the board to ensure stringent penalties for defaulters.

The board has created additional guidelines for registration of production companies, artistes, internet cafés, publishers and authors and has cancelled singing and dancing of any kind in Hausa films. No producer will be allowed to go to location for filming without his script being approved by a recognised consultant and vetted by the board.

Members of the Kano State Association of Printers have also been advised to make sure that before they print any book or poster meant for public use they must obtain a clearance from the board.

These rules also affect authors, publishers, bookshops, poster sellers, distributors and vendors, all of whom are expected to register with the board in compliance with the requirements of the Censorship Board Law 2001.

After the artificial outrage over an amateur video of a Nigerian film actress in a sex scene, the government of Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim state of Kano has called for a one-year ban on local film-making to “sanitise” the industry.

The state’s Filmmakers Association has already expelled 17 of its members for suspected involvement in “immoral acts”, even though they were not connected to the clip and the actress in question is currently in hiding.

An amateur video of a Nigerian film actress in a sex scene has caused an outcry in the north of the country, prompting a movie industry body to expel actors deemed “immoral,” according to Reuters.

Muslim clerics have condemned the clip and radio programs have been full of complaints about immorality in the film industry. The actress, who was not named by the paper, has gone into hiding, Leadership said.

Nigeria’s hugely successful home video industry, known as Nollywood, is mostly based in the south of the country which is predominantly Christian and considered less conservative.

In the past few years a Hausa-language home video industry has sprung up in the north and has also become very popular.

Leadership newspaper said the Kano state Filmmakers’ Association had reacted to the scandal over the sex video by expelling 17 actors - who had no connection to the video - deemed to have brought the industry into ill repute.