By Ibrahim Muhammad, Esq
The recent wave of bans on Hausa drama series in Kano State, including Labarina, Dadin Kowa, Dakin Amarya, Gidan Sarauta, and Manyan Mata, has stirred strong reactions across Northern Nigeria. While the intention behind the action may be rooted in morality and decency, the long-term consequences of this approach could prove more damaging than the content we are trying to suppress.
The Executive Secretary of the Kano State Censorship Board, Abba Almustapha, appears to be on a moral crusade. But as citizens, religious bodies, and civil institutions such as the Hisbah Board and the Ministry of Education, we must ask: is this the most effective way to protect our values, or are we simply driving our youth away and widening the gap between cultural preservation and modern realities?
We’ve seen this story before. When actress Rahma Sadau was banned from
Kannywood, it didn’t end her career, it expanded it. She established her own production company, took her talents global, and began releasing content on platforms like YouTube, where she continues to thrive, well beyond the reach of Kano’s regulatory frameworks.
When social media personality Murja Kunya was disowned over her content, she moved to Lagos and began producing even more provocative material, no longer under the moral radar of Kano authorities. The same happened with Y-America. Despite being publicly disciplined and paraded as an example, he now creates more vulgar content from Lagos, attracting thousands of followers, including the very youth we claimed to be protecting.
And now, with another clampdown, the producers and cast of the newly banned series may follow the same trajectory. Many of these dramas are likely to move to YouTube or other global streaming platforms, where they’ll continue to flourish. If Western production companies discover their growing relevance, they may even offer funding and global exposure, far from the moral scrutiny of Kano. In such a scenario, we lose both our youth and the opportunity to guide the content they create.
It’s important to note that Kano today stands as both the entertainment hub and commercial nerve center of Northern Nigeria. Other states look up to it, not just for trade and industry, but for cultural influence and leadership. That is why we must lead wisely, lest we lose the moral and intellectual influence that binds the North together. If Kano stumbles, the rest of the region risks following suit.
Rather than outright bans and knee-jerk censorship, what Kano needs is an inclusive framework that brings stakeholders to the table, actors, directors, religious leaders, academics, and youth representatives. We must engage constructively, regulate meaningfully, and support our content creators to promote messages consistent with our culture and faith, without stifling creativity or livelihoods.
This is not the time for reactionary governance or media sensationalism. It is time for strategic leadership. Instead of disowning our youth and their mistakes, we must mentor them. Instead of stifling innovation, we must create environments that channel it for good.
As elders and institutions, we often claim the role of moral instructors. But in the fast-evolving world of media and technology, we must also be humble enough to learn, from the youth, from innovation, and from the realities of global influence.
Let us act wisely, and let us act now, before we lose another generation not because they turned their backs on our values, but because we failed to guide them with wisdom.
Ibrahim Muhammad is a legal practitioner and social commentator based in Kano – Nigeria. He writes on issues of law, culture, and youth development.
The opinions and views expressed by contributors are solely their own and do not reflect the official stance of Kano Times
