Umar Gombe


Umar Sani Labaran, also known as Umar Gombe, is a Nigerian actor, filmmaker, and Film director who has appeared in over a hundred movies as well as a number of television and comedy shows. Gombe is the first program manager for Northflix, a Hausa movie streaming app. He has appeared in films, television shows, radio shows, and comedy shows. He has been nominated for best supporting actor several times and has won several other awards.
IG umargombe

Early life and education

Gombe was born into the Kano family on 5 April 1983, in Gombe State, Nigeria. He is the son of Malam Sani Labaran, a farmer, elder statesman and member of the Arewa Consultative Forum. From 1986 to 1998, he attended nursery, primary, and secondary schools in Gombe State, then part of Bauchi State. He continued his education at Bayero University Kano and New World Professional Computer Institute, where he earned diplomas in public administration and in data processing and information technology respectively. Gombe has a bachelor of science in information technology and business information systems from Middlesex University, Dubai, and later enrolled in an MBA program at Nigeria's National Open University.
In 2014, Gombe participated in a film training program at the Asian Academy of Film and Television, Noida in India, a United Nations Program, alongside other Kannywood actors such as Falalu A Dorayi, Ali Nuhu, Ishaq Sidi Ishaq and Ibrahim Mandawari.

Acting career

Gombe made his debut in Hausa films in 2001 with Shaida, eventually becoming a leading actor in Fasaha Films before moving on to ISI Films, which was founded by renowned filmmaker Ishaq Sidi Ishaq, and later Kumbo Productions, which produced the blockbuster film Sanafahna, which was shot in Nigeria and in Niger. He appeared in several Kumbo Productions films, including Armala, Noor, and Sanafahna.
Gombe rose to prominence after appearing in Netflix's Nollywood English film, Tenant of the House, directed by Kunle Afolayan and Adieu Salut, as well as other Hausa films such as Kwalla, Lambar Girma, Noor, Lissafi, Iko, and In Zaki So Ni. With roles in films such as Lissafi, Noor, Mati A Zazzau, Kishiyata, Fati, Wakili, Hauwa Kulu, and the television series Gidan Badamasi, Umar has established himself as one of Kannywood's most talented and versatile actors. He also had a significant role in the award-winning Dadin Kowa television series, which was the first Hausa language series to air on Arewa24. Umar also featured in the Nigerian family magazine show, Ongacious season 2.
Gombe was appointed caretaker chairman of the Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria in 2021, and later became the body's national assistant secretary following its election in 2022.

Filmography

Gombe made his film debut in the 2001 drama film Shaida, which helped him rise to fame and gain public recognition from many in the industry, which later helped him gain recognition and begin appearing in upcoming Hausa movies. In 2014, he made his television debut in the award-winning drama series Dadin Kowa on Arewa24, followed by a starring role in Netflix Kunle Afolayan's Tenants of the House, a film about conspiracy, dangerous romance, and girl-child education. In 2022, he made his first major appearance in Falalu Dorayi's award-winning controversial comedy television series Gidan Badamasi on Arewa24.
Gombe rose to prominence after appearing in both Gidan Badamasi and Noor, a film about surrogacy to address social issues, directed by Faika Ibrahim Rahi, an award-winning female director.

Film

YearTitleRoleGenreNote
2001ShaidaActorDrama
2001HaskeActorDrama
2002Duhun DamunaiActorDrama
2002KwallaActorDrama
2003SansaniActorDrama
2004AmbaliyaActorDrama
2004Tutar SoActorDrama
2005JaridaActorDrama
2006TakbirActorDrama
2006LadaActorDrama
2007AttajiraActorDrama
2007NauyiActorDrama
2008IkoActorDrama
2008BudurwaActorDrama
2008Jari HujjaActor/WriterDrama
2009WasilaActorDrama
2009Wasila ActorDrama
2009LissafiActorDrama
2009Kusuwar DangaActorDrama
2010Wa'aziActorDrama
2010Bakar AshanaActor/WriterThriller
2010FatiActorDrama-
2010Sanafahna 2ActorDrama
2010Ruwan DareActorDrama
2010Sauyin LamariActorDrama
2011BaleleActorDrama
2011In Zaki SoniActorDrama
2011NoorActor/ProducerDrama
2014Aci BulusActor Drama
2014ArmalaActor/ProducerDrama
2014MakuwaActorDrama
2015Soyayaya Da TsakuwaActorDrama
2017SamariActorDrama
2018Ni Da Kai Da ShiActorDrama
2019Tenant Of The HouseActor Drama
2019GargadiActor/ProducerDramaShort film
2020Mati A ZazzauActor Comedy/Drama
2021Hauwa KuluActorDrama
2021WakiliActorComedy/Drama
2021Ameer ActorAction/DramaShort film
2022Tsayin DakaActorDrama
2022MaimunatuActorDrama
2022Halima’s Choice ActorSciFi