Juyin Sarauta (The Royal Ascendance) is a 2017 movie. It was directed by Falalu A. Dorayi. It was produced by Balaraba Ramat Yakubu and Ado Ahmad Gidan Dabino MON. It was produced in Nigeria by Ramat Productions Ltd and Dogarai Women Film. The lyrics playback was made by Fati Nijar.
The movie won Best Film in the Nigerian Language Award by Zuma Film Festival 2017 and also nominated for the Best Actor. The movie comes with difference as a medium of enlightenment, entertainment, information and education in the African continent especially of the South Sahara. The plot, the characterization and the dialogue are logically crafted to make the story exciting and educating. The producer, defines her attitude towards her intention as gender activist.
Plot
Sarki Yusufu (Ado Ahmad Gidan Dabino MON) is the emir of Jadarwa. His wives, concubines and other slaves get divided in moves to produce the next Emir. In the process, each faction fraternizes with a particular prince and that leads to murder, rituals, and confusion reigned in the palace. Jakadiya (Ladidi Fagge) and Uwar Soro (Hauwa Musa) connive to turn Ahmadu mad; Umar, the heir apparent is poisoned by Fulani Gaji (Zainab Muhammad); Bashari is framed for stealing from the Emir's coffers and is banished; and Suleimanu is sent away from the palace as a tender boy. At the end, the less privileged among the Princes and son of a concubine, Suleimanu, emerged as the Emir.
Cast
Ado Ahmed Gidan Dabino, MON as Sarki Yusufa
Alassan Kwalle as Dan Buran
Aisha Suleiman Cameroon as Fulani Hauwau
Sadiya Adamu Kishiya as Fulani Saadatu
Marigayiya Maryam Tahir as Fulani Maryama
Zainab Muhammad as Fulani Gaji
Rabi Sufi as Gwaggo Tawal
Ladi Mutu ka Raba as Yaya Inna
Ladidi Fagge as Jakadiya
Hauwa Ahmad (Uwar Tuwo) as Fattu
Hauwa Musa as Uwar Soro
Sadiya Hassan as Baiwa Lantana
Shehu Hassan Kano as Dagacin Kubeji
Garba Shehu Gaya as Dan Isa
Auwalu Musa Solo as Galadima
Rufai Shehu Minjibir as Madaki
Hassan Hasszain as Wambai
Inuwa Iliyasu as Waziri
Production
Development
In 2015, Balaraba Ramat Yakubu wrote Juyin Sarauta to bring about a new concept on the women status in Northern Nigeria, where culture and religion dominate their essential rights. She discussed the concept with some people and conduct research in different areas. Together with staff of Ramat Productions, they came up with idea about role of women in determining the king in Hausaland. According to her, “...the story is that it shows that women are the real power axis in Hausa society.”
But, to achieve the primary aim of the project, there is a need for adequate funding and support from development Partners like UNICEF, UN Women, UNDP, CEDAW, USAID, DFID and women organization NCWS, FOMWAN, CWO, JMA, WIN, NAWOJ, FIDA, WOFAN AND WRAPA should support the project morally and financially for the benefit of larger audience in order to safe guard societal values and socio cultural, economic, and political values for women for a better society. She eventually contacted many of them and succeeded in gaining a lot from them. Project Act-Nollywood provide a substantial funding for the startup of the project.
Filming
Principal photography began in March 2016, different areas where assessed for the best result but they crew cannot find suitable one which can be used to look as far as 100 years before coming of colonial master into Hausaland. The team agreed to build their own city for the purpose of the project. Danhassan town was chosen and new palace city was build on rented land of about 4 km2.
Initially, the director, Falalu A. Dorayi screened and auditioned principal character (Sarki Yusufa) but when he was bring out to camera, he could not performed effectively, therefore, Ado Ahmad Gidan Dabino MON appropriated for the role and plays perfectly.
The movie took about twenty days from 11th February to 3rd March, 2016. The movie was initially targeted for 10 days, however due to some logistics issues, more days were added.
However, for the purpose of the movie, the crew also borrowed a resident of district head of Danhassan, changed its exterior design and later restored it back to its previous condition.