Mai Martaba

Mai Martaba
Release dates
  • 2024 (2024)

CountryNigeria
LanguageHausa

Nigeria's official submission to the 2025 The Academy Awards (Oscars).

Mai Martaba (Hausa meaning 'Your Highness') is a 2024 Nigerian epic thriller which depicts the culture and tradition of the royal setting in Hausa land.[1] The film was produced and directed by Prince Daniel Aboki.[1][2] The movie featured only one popular Kannywood actor Adam Zango, as a result of the director wanting to showcase new actors.[3] The film was premiered in Kano in August 2024.[2]

Plot

The film portrays a theme of love, greed, betrayal and royal battle which is a usual occurrence in royal settings in Northern Nigeria, Nigeria and Africa at large. It also highlights the situation in which a female is set to become the Emir, a situation which is not the norm in many parts of Northern Nigeria.[1][3]

Cast

  • Adam Zango
  • Fatima Mohammed as Princess Sangaya
  • Tasi’u Ali as MaiKabaas Turaki
  • Yahaya Sabo Abubakar as Wakili
  • Shugaba
  • Ghali Abdullah DZ
  • Muktar Aminu Haruna
  • Auwalu Isma’il Marshal

Reception

  • Submitted for the Best International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards[4][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c "'Why we shot the most 'expensive' Hausa movie, Mai Martaba' - Daily Trust". Daily Trust. 2024-08-24. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  2. ^ a b Rapheal (2024-08-09). "Day Mai Martaba set the North on fire". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  3. ^ a b Premium Times https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/kannywood/716031-why-i-featured-many-upcoming-actors-in-new-kannywood-movie-filmmaker-daniel.html?tztc=1. Retrieved 2025-04-14. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ BellaNaija.com (2024-11-26). "Oscars 2025: These Nine African Films Are in the Race for Best International Feature Film". BellaNaija. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  5. ^ Egodo-Michael, Oghenovo (2024-10-29). "Nigerian film, Mai Martaba, to compete at 2025 Oscars". The Punch. Retrieved 2025-04-14.