Makinde Adeniran, Ali Nuhu Lead Tributes as Theatre, Film Industries Mourn Umar Mai Kudi

Makinde Adeniran, Ali Nuhu Lead Tributes as Theatre, Film Industries Mourn Umar Mai Kudi

By Jerry Adesewo

The Nigerian arts and entertainment community is in mourning following the death of Umar Mai Kudi, fondly known as Cashman — a revered actor, theatre director, cultural ambassador, and former National President of the Motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN).

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In a deeply emotional tribute, Makinde Adeniran, FTA, president of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), described Mai Kudi as “a flame that lit many torches.”

“Umar Mai Kudi was not just a colleague; he was a movement. His passion for indigenous narratives, especially in northern Nigeria, elevated Hausa theatre and gave it national relevance. He built bridges with his art, across language, region, and generation. He was theatre’s gentle giant. We’ll miss him deeply,” Adeniran said.

He noted that Mai Kudi’s loss is personal to many practitioners and symbolic of a fading era of practitioners whose commitment was rooted in community and culture.

In a separate condolence message, award-winning actor and Director-General of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Ali Nuhu, also lamented Mai Kudi’s death, calling it a devastating blow to the motion picture industry.

“Alhaji Umar Mai Kudi was a consummate leader whose dedication to MOPPAN’s vision was unmatched. He repositioned the association during his tenure, championed filmmaker welfare, and remained a tireless advocate for northern cinema. His absence will be deeply felt across MOPPAN, the NFC, and Nollywood as a whole,” Nuhu said.

The NFC added that Mai Kudi’s legacy as a patriot, organiser, and mentor to many will continue to shape the future of Nigerian cinema. His contributions, they said, transcended the stage and screen — they touched lives.

Both NANTAP and the NFC have called for a memorial event to honour Mai Kudi’s lifetime achievements and to enshrine his legacy in the annals of Nigerian theatre and film.

The nation has lost a cultural custodian, and the echoes of his voice, his vision, and his values will be long remembered.

Umar Mai Kudi, who played Gov. Sanusi in the popular Nollywood series, WAR – Wrath and Revenge, among other legendary appearances on stage and television, was elected National President of the Motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN).

Makinde Adeniran, Ali Nuhu Lead Tributes as Theatre, Film Industries Mourn Umar Mai Kudi