SHAIHU UMAR AT 50

Landmark Nigerian Classic Available from ArtMattan Films

2026 marks the 50th anniversary of Adamu Halilu’s Shaihu Umar, a landmark of Nigerian cinema and a major rediscovery of African film history.

Filmed in Hausa in 1976 and long considered lost, Shaihu Umar was reconstructed after its camera negative was rediscovered in the Nigerian Film Corporation archive in 2016. Restored by Arsenal – Institute for Film and Video Art with the support of the German Embassy in Abuja, the restored version premiered at the Berlinale in 2018.

Based on the celebrated novel by Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, who later became Nigeria’s first prime minister, Shaihu Umar is set in northern Nigeria at the end of the 19th century. The epic follows Umar from childhood through separation, enslavement, Islamic education and spiritual maturation, culminating in his search for the mother he lost as a child.

A rare surviving example of Nigerian filmmaking before the rise of Nollywood, Shaihu Umar offers programmers an opportunity to explore African cinema history, Hausa culture, slavery and migration within Africa, Islamic traditions, literary adaptation, and film preservation.

The film is particularly suited to repertory programs, African cinema retrospectives, restoration and archival series, Nigerian film programs, Black History programming, literary adaptations, and programs examining slavery, memory and cultural heritage.

SHAIHU UMAR
Directed by Adamu Halilu
Nigeria | 1976 | 142 min. | Color
Epic Drama | Hausa with English subtitles

Available from ArtMattan Films for booking inquiries.

SYNOPSIS

Set in northern Nigeria towards the end of the 19th century, Shaihu Umar begins with a discussion between Islamic students and their renowned teacher, Shaihu Umar. Asked about his origins, Umar begins to tell the story of his life.

Born into a modest family, he is separated from his mother following the death of his father and the banishment of his stepfather. His journey is marked by displacement, enslavement and hardship until he eventually becomes the adopted son of Abdulkarim. Umar attends Koranic school and, as an adult, becomes an imam. After experiencing a powerful dream, he resolves to search for the mother from whom he was separated as a child.

ABOUT THE RESTORATION

Filmmaker and film critic Didi Cheeka has worked for years to recover and reassess Nigeria’s film heritage. He initiated the archival project Reclaiming History, Unveiling Memory, dedicated to restoring, digitizing and presenting rediscovered Nigerian films.

Shaihu Umar, one of the most important works recovered through this effort, had long been considered lost. The discovery of its camera negative in 2016 made reconstruction possible.

Arsenal – Institute for Film and Video Art restored the film with the support of the German Embassy in Abuja. The digitally restored version premiered at the Berlinale in February 2018.

CAST

Umaru Ladan — Shaihu Umar
Mairiga Aliyu — Fatima
Husaini Mohammed — Umar, age 3
Umaru Dembo — Makau
Assad Yasin — Abdulkarim
Harira Kachia — Kaka

CREW

Director
Adamu Halilu

Screenplay
Adamu Halilu, based on the novel Shaihu Umar by Abubakar Tafawa Balewa

Directors of Photography
Yusuf Mohammed, Zakari Yusufu

Editing
Edwin Apim

Sound
Baba Gana

Production Design
Assad Yasin

Producers
Umaru Ladan, Umaru Dembo

Produced by
Federal Ministry of Information (Federal Film Unit Kaduna)

ADAMU HALILU

Adamu Halilu was born in Adamawa State, Nigeria, in 1936. He studied screenwriting and editing in London. In addition to his work as a feature film director, Halilu wrote screenplays and participated in the production of nearly 70 documentary films. He died in 2001.

Selected Filmography

1963 — Mama Learns a Lesson, 48 min.
1971 — Child Bride, 70 min.
1976 — Shaihu Umar
1978 — Kanta of Kebbi
1981 — Moment of Truth, 90 min.
1982 — Zainab

Bio- and filmography based on Berlinale 2018 materials.