Usman Baba Pategi, veteran actor, retired soldier and broadcaster popularly known as Samanja Mazan Fama, has passed away at the age of 84.
Family sources said that the Kaduna-based popular Hausa film actor died around 12:15 am on Sunday.
One of his sons, Mohammad Usman, told the Daily Trust: “He died at the age of 84 and left behind two wives and 12 children. The funeral prayer will be held at 10 am at a mosque in Kabala Costain, Kaduna.”
He was widely known for his 80s NTA network drama role as Samanja Maza Fama, Hausa word meaning Sergeant-Major. Many attributed the excellent way he interpreted his role in the drama series to his experience as a soldier.
Samanja, a retired solder of the Nigerian Army, together with Yusuf Ladan, Mamman Ladan and Idi Jibril a staff of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) introduced the Hausa comedy known now as Kannywood or Hausa films in the 80s to the Northern Nigeria audience.
Born into the royal house of Pategi Emirate in Pategi, Kwara State, Samanja was the son of Etsu Usman Patako late King of Pategi.
He started his early education in Pategi Primary School and then went to Ilorin Middle School. Then later on he went to Kaduna to live with his uncle Alhaji Audu Bida where he became his assistance at home. He also worked with Public Works Department in the Mechanical Store before joining the Northern Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) Kaduna.
Samanja joined the Nigeria Army during the Nigerian civil war when an Army captain came to Kaduna looking for Northern Nigeria youths willing to volunteer and was recruited and later trained at the Army Signal Training School, Apapa.
Retiring from the Army in 1985, he went on for acting career, starting with drama at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Kaduna, where he also directed and wrote movies.
