Cinema culture in Nigeria has evolved significantly and continues to do so, driven by technological disruptions and changing audience preferences. While cinemas and exhibition centers in Southern Nigeria have witnessed growth, their Northern counterparts face several challenges.
Out of approximately 100 standard cinemas across Nigeria, 95 per cent are located in the southern part of the country. Northern Nigeria accounts for fewer than ten cinemas: two in Abuja, one in Kano, and one in Kaduna. Silverbird Cinemas, was Kaduna, established about three years ago.
Notably, many capital cities in the North, including Maiduguri, Damaturu, Katsina, Sokoto, Bauchi, Jalingo, Yola, Gusau, and Damaturu , do not have a single standard cinema. This raises questions about the viability and role of community cinemas in these areas.
Top actor, thespian and Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA) 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Sani Muazu, stated that this development was not so more than three decades ago as the North accounted for several cinemas in the major entertainment hubs in 70s and 80s.
Mallam Muazu who was former president of Movie Practitioner Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN) in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP Weekend, stated that cinema business in the north is not thriving because of its present myriad challenges which include cultural inhibitions and lack of understanding for investors to understand the business of growing cinemas in Northern Nigeria.
“Northern Cinema was thriving in the 70s and 80s just like in the south as the nation’s economy was bustling and our currency strong even against the dollar and pound sterling. Nigeria had a good number of cinemas in Kano owned by foreign companies and other commercial cities and capital that existed in those days.
But the naturalisation decree by the military government affected the fate of the cinema operations just like most businesses then. Since that time, the cinema culture has not been revived and also the evolution of how consumers and lovers of movie consume content has changed,” Muazu pointed out.
Speaking further, the actor of five decades noted that movie production evolved from other forms to celluloid and then to Direct to Home (DTH) videos in the 90s “and this further affected the patronage and there appeared few cinemas both in Lagos, Kano and even in Abuja. It was only in early 2000 that Silverbird Cinemas and others sprang up in Lagos and other commercial capital as the renaissance period in entertainment industry had begun.
“Now, the reason we have fewer cinemas in the North compared to the South stems from a myriad of issues. Insecurity in Northern Nigeria, coupled with the absence of a strong business ecosystem to support the film industry such as what Kannywood provides poses significant challenges.
As a result, stakeholders can do little more than persevere in their efforts. Meanwhile, Nollywood and industry players continue to call for increased patronage of actors and independent producers from the North, holding onto hope for a better future
“Firstly, for exhibitors and owners of the cinemas need to understand how cinema business in the north works. The Kannywood industry and government agencies, players in the movie sector in the North need to make the environment attractive. The kind of original stories that is made into a movie that will sells in the cinema is different from the one in southern demography. Africa Magic Hausa, a channel among the DStv bouquet under the Africa Magic TV channels. has been wonderful and has helped to grow the industry.
“Also insecurity and banditry has not helped matters as it has taken the business of film making backwards as we cannot shoot scenes in some places in the north. We cannot shoot at night. All these challenges has affected the business of cinemas in Northern Nigeria but there is a light at the end of tunnel with the new technology and streamers calling for contents and original stories from Africa, Nigeria and Northern Nigeria being part of the mix,” says the veteran.
Founder of Kaduna International Film Festival KADIFF, Israel Kashim Audu who also spoke with LEADERSHIP Weekend stated that cinema business in the north has not been fully grasped by investors.
“The cinema business in Northern Nigeria, particularly the Kannywood film industry, is experiencing growth, though it faces challenges like limited infrastructure and economic barriers. While Kannywood is primarily focused on Hausa-speaking audiences, its films are gaining wider appeal.
Investments in commercial real estate and rising consumer spending in emerging hubs like Abuja could boost the cinema sector if there is a deliberate policy by government to create an enabling environment for the movie sub-sector to thrive,” says Audu who is hosting Kaduna International Film Festival (KADIFF).
Chief content officer of FilmOne Entertainment, Ladun Awobokun , who spoke to our correspondent noted that, Film One Entertainment had established cinemas in Kano and Abuja in the past but the economics and prevailing insecurity issues, made the company to reduce the number of cinemas in Kano.
“The cinema business, driven by emerging technologies, requires that both global cinema operators and local investors are assured of a return on investment (ROI). Investing in cinemas is capital-intensive, and we prioritize areas that meet the necessary criteria. That said, we are optimistic about expanding our footprint in Northern Nigeria,” she noted.
Further elaborating, Awobokun emphasised that understanding the cinema culture within the North or any specific demographic, is essential. She added that FilmOne Entertainment, which manages Filmhouse Cinemas, is open to partnerships and is committed to developing cinema culture in Northern Nigeria.
