While audiences often celebrate actors whose faces dominate the screen, the unseen contributors—the “masquerades” of Kannywood—are the true lifeblood of the industry. These are the writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, and strategists who shape scripts, mold characters, secure locations, manage marketing, and ensure distribution. Without them, even the most talented actors would have little impact.

The “Kannywood Roundtable on Reputation Management and Digital Advancement”, hosted in Kano by Image Merchants Promotion Limited in collaboration with NITDA, brought together these key stakeholders for a candid assessment of the industry. Attendees included leading writers, producers, directors, and technocrats, such as Zuwairiyyah Adamu Girei, Prince Daniel (ABOKI), Hassan Bin Isah, Nasiru B. Muhammad, and Hafizu Bello, among others.

Chaired by Dr. Sule Yau Sule and with a keynote from NITDA representative Engr Mohammed Kabir Salihu, discussions focused on Kannywood’s strengths, challenges, and the urgent need to embrace digital transformation. Participants noted that while global cinema increasingly uses AI, data-driven distribution, and advanced post-production workflows, Kannywood has lagged behind. Skill gaps in animation, sound engineering, and AI-assisted editing, along with repetitive storytelling, regulatory friction, piracy, low remuneration, and gender imbalance, threaten the industry’s sustainability.

Yet solutions emerged. Stakeholders advocated partnerships with technology institutions, specialised film schools, mentorship programs, stronger engagement with regulators, and professional marketing and PR strategies. They also recommended business-oriented production models, insurance schemes, intellectual property protection, cinema revival, and expanded streaming partnerships.

A recurring theme was that Kannywood is not just entertainment—it is a cultural asset, a source of employment, a social cohesion tool, and a soft-power instrument for Nigeria. Protecting its reputation and embracing digitalisation are no longer optional; they are essential for survival and growth.

The message from Kannywood’s unseen architects is clear: creativity alone will not sustain the industry. To thrive globally, Kannywood must honour its unsung contributors, modernise its operations, and fully embrace the digital age.