The Hausa film industry, Kannywood, has been thrown into mourning following the passing of veteran actress Wasila Isma’il, who died at the age of 46 after battling a long-term sickness.
Her former husband, Al-Amin Chiroma, broke the news of her demise through a social media update on Sunday.
“Innalillahi Wainna Ilaihirrajiun. Wasila Isma’il is dead. She died at the Federation of Muslim Women Associations of Nigeria Hospital, Kaduna,” he said.
According to him, the screen star breathed her last on Sunday after succumbing to a protracted ailment. She leaves behind her children.
Wasila stood out as one of the influential personalities in Kannywood and earned widespread recognition for her performances in numerous Hausa movies.
Her journey in the acting world kicked off in 1998 when she appeared in the movie, “Jinin Masoya,” but her major breakthrough came in 1999 after she took the lead role in “Wasila,” a film helmed by director Yakubu Lere where she starred next to top actor Ali Nuhu.
The Kaduna-born actress turned into a household sensation on the back of that movie’s massive hit.
Speaking about the project in a past interview, the actress revealed that the film was originally meant to be called “Jamila” until she pleaded for a title modification.
“I didn’t like the name Jamila because I feared it might tarnish my name, so I asked for it to be changed, and the director agreed,” she had said.
As word of her departure spread, movie lovers and fellow industry practitioners flooded social media platforms to express their grief, honoring her as a gifted performer whose footprints in the Hausa cinema space will remain unforgettable.
