Shaihu Umar

In Shaihu Umar, the narrative begins with a discussion among Islamic students and their esteemed teacher, Shaihu Umar. When asked about his origins, Umar shares his compelling story: he comes from a humble background and is separated from his mother after the death of his father and the subsequent banishment of his stepfather. Umar’s path is fraught with challenges, including slavery, as he endures various trials until he is eventually adopted by his Arabic master, Abdulkarim. He attends Koran School and becomes an imam upon reaching adulthood. Following a significant dream, he embarks on a quest to find his mother.

Shaihu Umar is regarded as one of the most significant works in the history of Nigerian cinema, although it was long considered lost. Set in northern Nigeria during the late 19th century, the film is adapted from a novel by Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, who later became Nigeria’s first prime minister. The long-awaited reconstruction of the film was made possible by the rediscovery of the camera negative in 2016. The digitally restored version premiered at the Berlinale in February 2018.