Kannyood actress, Hauwa Maina is dead. She died Wednesday night after a protracted illness at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.
Hauwa Maina made her screen debut around 1998 in a film directed by Saminu Mohammed Mahmud.
She appeared in a number films such as Sarauniya Amina, Gwaska and Maina, produced by her company, Ma’inta Enterprises Limited.
Ms Maina was one of the most popular faces in Kannywood. She was famous for her roles in such epic Hausa movies as ‘Queen Amina’ and ‘Bayajida’.
The Biu, Borno State-born star had also delved into movie production and directing after spending close to 20 years in the entertainment industry.
The Kannywood actress, who had acted in no less than 50 movies, won awards including best actress SIM awards 2010, best Afro-Nollywood Award, London, 2007.
In one of her interviews with Daily Trust, Ms Maina spoke on how she got into the entertainment industry after having acquired a National Diploma in Management from Kaduna State Polytechnic.
She was at the moment combining a freelance job with Liberty Radio with acting, producing and directing movies.
“Interest in the art is what lured me in. As a student, a family friend, Salisu Salinga, came visiting and then said he had to go to a location. I asked what ‘location’ meant and he said it was the site for shooting films. I didn’t know he was a producer.
“I said, ‘wow, I would have loved to be an actress, but I don’t think I can.’ He said I could. But I refused. At the time, I was envisioning in my mind how my posters would be scattered on the streets and how many messages I would be able to pass across to people through this medium.
“We laughed and he left. A few moments later, he came back in a rush and asked if I was serious and that if I was, he would like to give me a trial.
“Then I got nervous as it seemed like it was soon going to be a reality and began to drag my feet. I told him I would first come to watch them shoot. This I would say was the beginning in 1999.”
Many Kannywood celebrities have condoled with the family of the deceased, posting her pictures on social media and praying for the repose of her soul.
Hauwa Maina will be buried in Kaduna on Thursday.
