Nigerian Actress Sorry For 'Offensive Hug'

A leading Nigerian actress, who was banned from the Hausa-language film industry because of her "immoral" behaviour, has apologised.

Rahama Sadau's appearance in a music video "hugging and cuddling" Nigerian pop star Classiq offended some people.

Ms Sadau said sorry to those she upset, but said her actions were "innocuous".

Hausa films are popular in the mostly Muslim northern Nigeria where it is taboo for men and women to hold hands in public.

The industry, commonly known as Kannywood, has been under fire from conservative Muslim clerics who accuse it of corrupting people's values.

The Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria banned the actress from Kannywood films, saying that her appearance in the video violated the industry's code of ethics.

It added that it hoped the ban would serve as a deterrent to other actors and actresses who are "expected to be good ambassadors of the society they represent".