With an ambitious 2026 production calendar featuring nine films and television series. Abnur Entertainment, the company led by its founder and Chief Executive Officer, Abdulrahman Muhammad, popularly known as Abdul Amart Mai Kwashewa is strengthening Kannywood’s creative economy while creating opportunities for actors, filmmakers, technicians and young professionals across Northern Nigeria.
By Usman Rabiu Abubakar
Kannywood is experiencing a significant transformation as producers increasingly embrace digital distribution, long-form television series, professional production structures and stories that address the realities of contemporary society. One of the filmmakers contributing prominently to this development is Abdulrahman Muhammad, popularly known as Abdul Amart Mai Kwashewa, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Abnur Entertainment Nigeria Limited.
Abdul Amart’s journey from selling film cassettes to becoming an established Kannywood producer reflects persistence, entrepreneurship and a long-term commitment to Hausa-language cinema. He has developed Abnur Entertainment into a recognisable production company with a growing catalogue of films, limited series, mini-series and recurring television dramas.
Rather than approaching filmmaking as a one-off activity, Abdul Amart has built a system in which several productions can be developed, filmed, promoted and released within a coordinated calendar. This approach is helping to establish continuity of work for creative professionals and is gradually moving Kannywood towards a more organised production culture.
The economic importance of a production company is not limited to the number of actors appearing in its films. Every production creates work across a broad value chain.
A typical Entertainment project and or production including that of Abnur requires writers, directors, assistant directors, production managers, cinematographers, camera assistants, lighting technicians, sound engineers, costume designers, make-up artists, set designers, editors, graphic designers, publicity personnel, drivers, caterers and location coordinators.
Additional opportunities are created for musicians, voice-over artists, photographers, social-media managers, subtitlers, equipment suppliers and owners of houses or business premises used as filming locations.
Consequently, a calendar containing several productions can provide temporary or recurring employment for many people, particularly young men and women attempting to build careers in the creative sector.
The wider employment potential of Kannywood has attracted national and international attention. During a June 2026 visit to Kano Film Village, a delegation of European diplomats highlighted the capacity of the Hausa film industry to create jobs, develop skills and expand economic opportunities for young people. Nigerian Film Corporation Managing Director Ali Nuhu also described film production as one of Kano State’s major sources of youth employment after agriculture.
Abnur Entertainment’s expanding catalogue should therefore be viewed not only as an entertainment programme but also as part of Northern Nigeria’s developing creative economy.
Providing a Platform for Young Talent
One of the major challenges confronting young people interested in filmmaking is the absence of consistent practical opportunities. Training is valuable, but filmmakers develop most effectively when they can participate in real productions and work alongside experienced professionals.
Through its numerous projects, Abnur Entertainment provides spaces in which emerging actors and production workers can and acquire experience. Young performers can appear alongside established Kannywood personalities, while aspiring technicians can gain practical knowledge in camera operation, continuity, lighting, sound recording, production coordination and post-production.
The benefits extend beyond immediate payment. A young actor who performs convincingly in a popular series may attract offers from other producers. Similarly, a make-up artist, costume designer, editor or cinematographer can use completed productions to demonstrate professional ability and build a stronger portfolio.
By maintaining a regular production schedule, Mr. Amart is helping to create the consistency required for talent discovery and career development.
How Abnur Entertainment’s Approach Stands Out
Abnur Entertainment’s production model differs from the traditional approach in which a company produces a single film and remains inactive for a lengthy period. Its 2026 calendar demonstrates deliberate planning, multiple formats and continuity across established and new titles.
The company is working with standard series, limited series and mini-series. This variety allows each story to be presented in a format suitable for its subject and audience. A complex family drama may require several episodes, while a more concentrated story may work better as a limited series.
Another distinguishing feature is the use of ensemble casts. Instead of building every production around one celebrity, many Abnur Entertainment posters feature a combination of established actors, supporting performers and emerging faces. This widens participation and helps introduce new talent to audiences.
The company also appears to understand the importance of visual identity and coordinated publicity. Individual projects are supported by promotional artwork, cast-focused posters and a combined production calendar. This helps audiences recognise the company’s productions and anticipate upcoming releases.
Its online presence and use of the Abnur Entertainment YouTube channel also reflect Kannywood’s adjustment to the decline of the traditional DVD market. Digital distribution enables Hausa-language films to reach viewers across Nigeria and among Hausa-speaking communities in other African countries and the diaspora.
Consistency as an Industry-Building Strategy
Amart’s decision to present a coordinated calendar suggests an effort to treat filmmaking as a structured business rather than an occasional venture. This is important because consistent production gives professionals greater confidence that there will be another project after the current one.
It also strengthens the relationship between producers and audiences. Viewers who enjoy one Abnur Entertainment series can look forward to the company’s next production instead of waiting indefinitely.
Recurring productions such as Manyan Mata, which is entering its seventh season, demonstrate the value of sustaining stories that have developed an audience. At the same time, new projects allow the company to explore different characters, themes and social environments.
The titles and promotional materials in the company’s 2026 projects calendar indicate a strong emphasis on family relationships, marriage, social class, parental responsibility, education, personal struggle and the consequences of human decisions.
These subjects are particularly relevant to Hausa-speaking communities because they reflect conversations taking place in homes, schools, markets, workplaces and religious or traditional institutions.
Productions such as Manyan Mata, Saddiqa, Abbana, Baraka and Wa Zai Auri Jahila? appear positioned to explore different aspects of family life and society. Even when created primarily for entertainment, such stories can encourage audiences to discuss education, dignity, marriage, parenting, honesty and social responsibility.
This social dimension is essential. During the European delegation’s visit to Kano Film Village, representatives emphasised that storytelling can influence attitudes and promote positive change, while creative industries can simultaneously create employment and entrepreneurship.
Strengthening Professional Collaboration
No producer can develop an industry alone. Film production depends on cooperation among writers, directors, actors, technicians, distributors, regulators, broadcasters and audiences.
The inclusion of different directors, writers and performers across the projects can support a healthier creative environment. It gives professionals opportunities to exchange ideas, improve standards and develop relationships that may lead to future productions outside Abnur Entertainment.
This collaborative model also helps prevent the industry from becoming dependent on a small number of individuals. By widening participation, the company contributes to the development of a stronger professional community.
Abnur Entertainment’s 2026 Film and Series Calendar
Abnur Entertainment’s announced calendar contains nine major productions, combining continuing series, new dramas, mini-series and limited series. The calendar demonstrates both the scale of the company’s investment and the diversity of its storytelling plans.
- Badiyya — Limited Series
Badiyya is presented as a character-driven drama involving relationships, marriage, loyalty and difficult personal choices. Its promotional artwork suggests an emotionally layered story built around several interconnected characters.
- Manyan Mata, Season 7 — Series
The continuation of Manyan Mata into a seventh season reflects the durability of the franchise and the audience it has developed. The new season is expected to continue examining the experiences, responsibilities and conflicts of influential women within family and society.
- Saddiqa — Limited Series
Saddiqa appears to be an emotional drama centred on a mature female character, with family members and other individuals connected to her story. Its limited-series format should allow the narrative to reach a clear conclusion without unnecessary expansion.
- Mijin Biza — Series
Mijin Biza features a large ensemble cast and appears positioned as a contemporary family and social drama. Its format provides room for several characters and interconnected storylines to develop over multiple episodes.
- Abbana — Mini-Series/Limited Series
The title Abbana, meaning “our father” or “my father,” suggests a production focused on fatherhood, family leadership, responsibility and relationships between parents and children. Its mini-series structure offers an opportunity for concentrated storytelling.
- Farauta — Limited Series
The promotional image for Farauta features two men in a tense confrontation, suggesting a story involving rivalry, ambition, conflict or a struggle for power. The limited-series format could deliver an intense and focused narrative.
- Wa Zai Auri Jahila? — Series
Translated as “Who Will Marry an Uneducated Woman?”, the title immediately raises questions about education, social judgement, marriage and the treatment of women. The production has the potential to provoke meaningful discussion about literacy, opportunity, dignity and personal development.
- Baraka — Series
Baraka appears to focus on a young woman and an older male character, indicating a possible family, mentorship or generational storyline. The series may explore how decisions made by elders affect the futures of younger people.
- Safara — Series
With several characters displayed in its promotional artwork, Safara appears to be an ensemble drama involving family relationships, disagreement and personal struggle. Its continuing-series format provides space for the characters’ individual stories to intersect.
Exact premiere dates for some of the productions were not displayed on the attached calendar and should be announced through Abnur Entertainment’s official platforms.
A Broader Contribution to Kannywood
Abdul Amart’s most important contribution may not be limited to any single production. It is the development of a production structure capable of supporting several stories, employing different professionals and maintaining audience engagement throughout the year.
Through Abnur Entertainment, he is helping to show that Kannywood can function as an industry where young people build sustainable careers—not only as actors, but also as writers, cinematographers, editors, designers, technicians, publicists and entrepreneurs.
The company’s 2026 slate represents ambition, continuity and confidence in the future of Hausa-language entertainment. It also sends an important message to investors and policymakers: supporting film production can create jobs, preserve culture, build technical skills and strengthen the economy.
As audiences await the release of Badiyya, Manyan Mata Season 7, Saddiqa, Mijin Biza, Abbana, Farauta, Wa Zai Auri Jahila?, Baraka and Safara, Abdul Amart and Abnur Entertainment are positioning themselves not merely as producers of entertainment, but as contributors to the professional and economic advancement of Kannywood.
