A popular Nigerian film actress, Saratu Gidado Daso, has died at the age of 56.
According to her relatives and colleagues, Daso died in the northern city of Kano in the early hours of Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in her sleep while observing Ramadan fasting.
Fans and colleagues have been paying tributes to the movie star known for her comedy and antagonist roles in the Hausa film industry known as Kannywood, which is based in northern Nigeria.
Saratu Daso was a ”star and mother in Kannywood”, Abba El-Mustapha, the head of Kano State Films and Censorship Board, said in his tribute. “We pray Allah to grant her mercy and forgive her shortcomings,” he said.
Daso, until her death, was a prominent figure in the Hausa film industry for over 18 years.
Though mainly produced in northern Nigeria, Hausa films are popular across West and Central Africa as well as among the Hausa-speaking diaspora around the world.
Her remarkable performances and versatile roles endeared her to audiences across the Northern region.
Before she took up the illustrious acting career, Saratu was a dedicated school teacher.
She was buried on Tuesday evening, according to Islamic rites.
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