(Kemi Yesufu / January 25, 2013)

Saratu Gidado is probably the most famous of the Hausa actresses. The Kannywood star popularly known as Daso is the favourite of those in love with Hausa movies. If you call her Kannywood’s Mama G for her ability to portray comic roles and wicked characters, you will not be wrong. In this interview with TS Weekend, she opened up about life as an actress, family and why Hausa actors shy away from Nollywood.

You are known for you comic roles. The fans also love you for how well you interpret wicked characters. How did his come about? Well, I am not the one who opted for comic roles. It is the directors that do the casting and each time they give me a role that they deem fit, I accept it after looking through the script. It is equally true that the fans like it when I portray wicked woman. Yet, I leave it to the director to assign me roles. My duty as an actress is to bring the character to life and to look as convincing as possible. Have you had situations where you explained to fans why you had to be wicked in films? On a few occasions, I’ve had to take out time to explain to viewers why I was mean in a film. I take time to tell them that I was only doing my job. I am not a wicked person in real life. I go as far as telling the fans that whatever character they see us (actors) playing, whether it is good or bad, it is all make-believe. Actors have their own way of living and in most cases; we are direct opposites of the characters we play. You started out as a teacher. How did you get into Kannywood? It is true that I started out as a teacher. I love teaching. For me, teaching and acting come naturally, because both professions share similarities. In the classroom, you teach the pupils and equip them with knowledge that they will use in life. With films, people can learn life’s lessons and avoid making mistakes. As actors, we teach the viewers about life. Lots of people tell me they have learnt a lot watching Kannywood films. How did your colleagues react to your decision to delve into acting? My colleagues were happy for me. My friends in the school told me to follow my dreams, because for them, acting might just be what God had destined for me. They wished me luck and prayed for my success. Due to certain misconceptions, many parents in the north aren’t disposed to their children joining Kannywood. Did you family support your leaving teaching for acting? I grant interview such as this one to enlighten people that entertainers are responsible. Those who view entertainers as irresponsible people need to be enlightened about how we work. Actors just like bankers or doctors work to earn a living. We are serious people who cater for our families from what we earn as actors. Besides putting food on the table, we also see acting as a means of carrying out social crusades over the ills in society. I always tell people that they shouldn’t emulate the bad characters in the films. Rather, they should learn from how badly evil people end up. Which film would you say gave you your break? I got my breakout role nine years back in the film entitled, Garuwashi. My fan base increased a great deal after that film. You are very popular among kannywood fans. How do you cope with the pressure that comes with fame?To be honest, I love the attention I get from the fans. I wasn’t famous before I got into Kannywood. Now, I have made a name through acting and I am enjoying the fame. Everywhere I go the fans hail me by my nickname ‘Daso’. It was the fans that gave me that name and whenever they see me, they stop to greet me. I appreciate the love the fans show me.

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