Veteran Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has raised concerns about a growing trend in Nigeria’s film industry, particularly on YouTube, where casting decisions are increasingly based on popularity and appearance rather than talent.
Born Anayo Modestus Onyekwere, Kanayo O. Kanayo rose to prominence with his role in the 1992 classic Living in Bondage. With over three decades in Nollywood, he has consistently championed professionalism, talent, and quality in filmmaking.
In a video shared on his Instagram page on Monday, Kanayo announced a shift in his own approach, pledging to focus on collaborating with emerging and under-recognized actors rather than established stars.
“I have decided to take my destiny in my own hands as it pertains to my platform on YouTube,” he said.
“Movie making is not about having a fine face, it’s about being a good actor, a good performer. So, with or without a fine face, that’s what I’ve decided to do. If you don’t like it, well, that’s quite unfortunate.”
Reflecting on the early years of Nollywood, Kanayo recalled how sponsors and promoters often sidelined talented actors deemed “unmarketable,” prematurely ending promising careers.
“There was an incident many years ago when we were trying to bring up this Nollywood business, about 25 years ago. Some sponsors woke up and started branding actors: ‘this one is not a good one, this one does not sell films.’ They killed the careers of those guys. I can mention names, but for the sanctity of this broadcast, I won’t,” he said.
Kanayo warned that a similar issue is now emerging on digital platforms.
“Such a thing is beginning to rear its ugly head again. The acclaimed YouTube faces are beginning to bring up the same thing, killing talents in the industry,” he lamented.
He criticized the monopolization of roles by a few actors dominating YouTube-based projects, arguing that this stifles creativity and leaves new talents without opportunities.
“Some of these guys will tell you they are not free from September 2025 till August 2026. How then do we sustain the content you watch? How do we create magic? How do we encourage new actors to come into the business? I don’t want any producer to call me for a job because I’m a selling face on any platform. Call me because I can deliver,” he stressed.
Kanayo reaffirmed his commitment to nurturing fresh talent through his YouTube channel, Kanayo O. Kanayo TV, and called on other industry stakeholders to prioritize skill over hype.
“If you’re a new face, come on, let’s do magic on Kanayo O. Kanayo TV on YouTube. Let’s create stories with people who can deliver, who can act,” he urged.
Despite expressing frustration at the recurring cycle of mistakes in Nigeria’s creative space, Kanayo remained optimistic that the current obsession with “faces” will eventually fade.
“I don’t know why when things come to Nigeria, there’s always a somersault, and this somersault is happening no
w on YouTube. But I want to employ my life’s philosophy to say: this too shall pass.”
