Theoretically informed and encyclopedic in his knowledge of Hausa and Hindi film, Abdalla Uba Adamu, the doyen of contemporary Hausa cultural studies, has produced a magnum opus of great authority. Throughout this book, he covers the growth of Hausa film, its relationship with Hindi film, media flows and the changes in technology that powered growth and change, as well as the individuals and organizations that sought to grow or suppress the industry. This gem of a book will open new vistas for those interested in international cultural flows, the cultural dynamics of northern Nigeria, and the broader Hausaphone world.

Graham Furniss, Professor Emeritus, SOAS, University of London, UK

For two decades Abdalla Uba Adamu has been the leading analyst of film culture in northern Nigeria. This magisterial work traces the origins of Hausa film, its rise to dominance, the controversies and censorship it provoked and the new directions it is taking.

Brian Larkin, Professor of Anthropology, Columbia University, USA