NFC’s Partners Cinematheque Suisse and Arsenal to Restore and Digitize Adamu Halilu’s “Kulba Na Barna”

The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and Cinematheque Suisse, and Arsenal Institute for Film and Video Art Berlin, has signed a historic memorandum of understanding to fully digitize Adamu Halilu’s Kulba Na Barna, one of Nigeria’s vintage films shot on 35mm format in 1992. This agreement is coming after the 2018 successful restoration as well as digitization of  Halilu’s Shaihu Umar. Both films are part of the holdings of the National Film Video and Sound Archive (NFVSA), Jos, a frontline department of the NFC.

Shaihu Umar, produced in 1976, is based on the eponymous 1955 novella by Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and is regarded as one the first feature films in Hausa. Shaihu Umar was long tagged a lost film until its camera negative was discovered in 2016, making it possible for the film to be digitally reconstructed in 2018. Didi Cheeka‘s work as an archivist (under his Reclaiming History, Unveiling Memory project), the NFC cooperation, and Arsenal Institute for Film and Video Art’s resources initiated the restoring, digitizing and curating of this long-lost Nigerian film.

Dr. Ali Nuhu, NFC’s Managing Director/Chief Executive, has 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. The successful digitization of Shaihu Umar has been followed with multiple programing and screening at national and global festivals and availability for Nigerian higher institutions for learning and research purposes. This signifies a movement towards curating continuous conversations around Nigerian film heritage and history. 

The projected restoration and digitization of Kulba Na Barna, under the technical partnership agreement, will interrupt further deterioration or loss of Nigerian audio-visual content of historical value, provide participating partners opportunities for other joint audio-visual content restoration, digitization, preservation, archiving, train the trainer – technical and manpower development initiatives. 

Kulba Na Barna, produced in 1992 by Brendan Shehu, and directed by Late Halilu, is a classic cultural feature film rooted in northern Nigeria. The title, derived from the Hausa language meaning “Blaming The Innocent,” reflects the unique and deep story telling 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, making it one of Nigeria’s cinematic works documenting socio-cultural realities in northern Nigeria. The film remains significant within Nigeria’s audio-visual heritage collections.

The film is an adaptation of Umaru Danjuma Katsina’s novel and tells the story of Zaliha, a young high school student seduced by a wealthy businessman, highlighting the issue of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. The 1992 Nigerian film also explores themes of moral accountability and the consequences of human actions, set against the backdrop of northern Nigerian culture.

The tripartite partnership between the Nigerian Film Corporation, Cinematheque Suisse, and Arsenal Institute for Film and Video Art Berlin, to preserve the film will make it accessible to future generations of Nigerian filmmakers, film enthusiasts, critics and academics. 

Halilu’s Kulba Na Barna is another significant repository of Nigeria’s audio-visual heritage and history. The restoration of the film and others with historic import means Nigerian filmmakers can have cinematic reference points. Nigerian filmmakers and critics often rely on international films as reference materials. 

Despite the artistic importance of this, it’s important for filmmakers to watch, study and understand films made within their national and cultural contexts. This restoration will also lead to knowledge production and exchange. Academics, filmmakers, critics and others who engage with the restored work will be gaining insights that could motivate future knowledge production.