NFC Partners Arsenal Cinematheque Suisse To Digitise ‘Kulba Na Barna’

The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) has signed a historic memorandum of understanding to fully digitise “Kulba Na Barna”, one of Nigeria’s vintage films shot on 35mm. This comes after a previous, successful restoration and digitisation of “Shaihu Umar” in 2019. Both films are part of the holdings of the National Film Video and Sound Archive (NFVSA), a frontline department of the NFC.

Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony in Lausanne, Switzerland, Dr Ali Nuhu, NFC’s Managing Director/Chief Executive, described the partnership as not only strategic but a significant milestone in NFC’s determination to transform the capabilities of the NFVSA as Nigeria’s official repository for audio-visual content.

Dr. Nuhu further averred that, following the successful digitization of “Shaihu Umar”, which has severally been screened globally, and copies already availed Nigerian higher institutions for learning and research purposes; the restoration and digitization of “Kulba Na Barna”, under the technical partnership agreement, will halt any further deterioration or loss of audio-visual contents of historical value, provide participating partners opportunities for other joint audio-visual content restoration, digitization, preservation, archiving, train the trainer – technical and workforce development initiatives. The tripartite agreement to restore and digitise “Kulba Na Barna” is between the NFC, Cinematheque Suisse and Arsenal – Institute for Film and Video Art – Berlin.

“Kulba Na Barna”, produced in 1992 by Brendan Shehu and directed by Late Adamu Halilu, is a classic cultural feature film rooted in northern Nigeria. The title, derived from Hausa, reflects the unique and deep storytelling techniques of Nigeria’s film industry. The themes of consequence, moral accountability, and the enduring impact of human actions are hallmarks of “Kulba Na Barna”, one of Nigeria’s cinematic works that documents socio-cultural realities in northern Nigeria.

The film remains significant within Nigeria’s audio-visual heritage collections.

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‎Meanwhile, Dr Nuhu, on a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Embassy in Germany, has commended the Ambassador for deepening Nigeria-Germany relations and making it easier for Nigeria’s cinema to thrive in that part of Europe. Dr Nuhu was particularly appreciative of the embassy’s support for German institutions and partners of the NFC through the provision of consular services. Nuhu informed his host that the sustainability of NFC’s cooperation and partnership with its German counterparts, which includes Goethe University, Arsenal – Institute for Film and Video Art – Berlin; Deutsches Filminstitut Filmmuseum- DFF; predicated on technical skills transfer, knowledge sharing, joint restoration and digitisation initiatives, training and retraining workshops for staff and workers of the NFVSA, requires frequent inter-country travels. The visit was part of NFC’s strategic engagements during the 76th Berlinale Film Festival, held in Berlin, Germany, in February.