Meet Hassana & Hussaina, Kannywood’s talented twins
Hassana and Hussaina Musa Abdullahi have been in Kannywood for a couple of years, but their being twins and attitude to roles appears to have set them apart already.
Hassana Musa Abdullahi (Mizani) and Hussaina Musa Abdullahi (Mairon Kauye) are Kannywood’s most celebrated identical twins. Born and raised in Kano, the twins have proved to their fans that they have come to stay and make their mark in the movie industry.
They are seen as the luckiest, as well as most promising Hausa actresses. Though they are only a few years old in the industry, the twins have over 30 movies to their credit. Their credibility as artistes and their ability to interpret roles given to them has already given them an edge over others.
The identical twins attended Unguwan Uku Special Primary School and nd Government Girls’ Secondary School, ol, Jogana, all in Kano. They however,er, went to separate schools for tertiary ry studies; one went to Kano School of Hygiene and the other to Aminu Kano no College for Islamic and Legal Studies. es. While in school the twins succeeded ed in effectively managing their acting ng careers and studies.
“Our studies were very vital to us and we didn’t allow it to suffer.fer. Therefore, we scheduled our activities es to fit into our study timetable to avoid id clashes. We succeeded in separating ng business from pleasure and studies s from business. With God, we didd this, managing our time effectively
up to our graduation day without much problem,” said the outspoken Hussaina.
Asked how they got into the movie industry, Hussaina said she had given acting a try in the past, but quit shortly afterwards due to personal reasons. She explained that when she decided to stage a comeback, she was joined by her twin sister.
Hussaina, who is the lead actress in the movie ‘Mairon Kauye,’ said they came into the industry with the consent and blessings of their parents and that they have achieved a lot from acting.
“People usually don’t know that we are twins, they believe they are seeing the same person, not knowing that the Hassana they know has a twin and an identical sister,” she said. “At times even directors of the movies we feature in find it very difficult to differentiate us and that has made them adopt the system of referring to us by the movies we starred in. That is why I’m referred to as ‘Mairon Kauye’ and my sister is nicknamed ‘Mizani,’” Hassana remarked.
She said that sometimes they sit-in for one another. “Mark my words, we are not changing roles but we do this for each other in one or two roles,” said ‘Mairon Kauye.’ “For instance, my sister had an exam and had a final scene to shoot, so I went and did the scene for her while she sat for her exams.”
Hussaina added confidently that: “We always receive a lot of accolades from our fans everywhere we go. The industry has given us the chance to explore our potentials and we are optimistic that the sky is our limit.”
Many people have been wondering how the twins are able to agree on almost everything they do. The girls are said to have common interests in their choice of colours, dresses, food and many other things, including acting as a profession.
Hassana, the elder twin, told Weekend Magazine that they are able to manage their likes and dislikes because they share common interests. “We grew up together, went to the same school and we are now involved in the same profession. We grew up understanding each other and respecting each other’s opinions, even though we don’t usually have different opinions on issues. But being together always has helped us appreciate each other as human beings. We see ourselves as friends, sisters and colleagues,” she explained.
Both actors have played lead roles in different Hausa movies, some of which are already in the market, while others are yet to be released. Some of the movies they featured in include, ‘Duk Mace Macece,’ ‘FitsarinFako,’ ‘Ibro Dan Karota,’ ‘MaironKauye’ and ‘Mizani.’
The twins said their love life is a secret they are guarding from prying eyes, even though they said that they are single and not into any serious relationship. Their mission, they revealed, is to make a positive impact in the film industry.