Usman Baba Pategi, widely known as Samanja Mazan Fama, shaped Nigerian entertainment in the 1980s by blending military discipline with sharp comedic timing. A veteran of the Nigerian Civil War, he retired from the army in 1985 and channelled his experiences into acting, creating the iconic character of Samanja, a sergeant-major who brought humour and realism to Hausa-language television dramas.

His performances on NTA Kaduna and FRCN Kaduna struck a chord with audiences, as he mixed military jargon with Hausa, English, and Pidgin to craft a distinctive comedic style. Pategi’s work helped lay the groundwork for Kannywood, Nigeria’s Hausa-language film industry, and inspired a generation of actors and comedians.