Nollywood legend Kanayo O. Kanayo has sounded the alarm over what he describes as a troubling shift in Nigeria’s film industry, particularly in YouTube-driven productions where casting now prioritizes popularity and looks over true acting talent.
Born Anayo Modestus Onyekwere, the actor—celebrated for his breakout role in the 1992 classic Living in Bondage—is regarded as one of the pioneers of Nollywood. With more than 30 years of experience, Kanayo has long advocated for professionalism, quality, and the recognition of genuine talent in filmmaking.
In a video message shared on Instagram on Monday, the 62-year-old star declared his decision to focus on grooming new and under-recognized performers rather than joining the race to feature already-established “YouTube faces.”
“Movie making is not about having a fine face, it’s about being a good actor, a good performer,” he said. “With or without a fine face, that’s what I’ve decided to do. If you don’t like it, that’s quite unfortunate.”
Kanayo compared the current trend to the early days of Nollywood when sponsors dismissed promising actors they deemed “unmarketable,” a practice he said destroyed several careers.
“Some sponsors woke up and started branding actors: ‘this one is not good, 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 recalled.
The actor warned that history is repeating itself, this time through digital platforms. He expressed concern that a handful of actors dominate YouTube productions, shutting out fresh talent and leaving producers overly dependent on the same faces.
“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?” he asked.
Rejecting the idea of being cast merely for his fame, Kanayo insisted he should be considered for roles based on ability and not market appeal.
He reaffirmed his commitment to developing rising stars through his YouTube platform, Kanayo O. Kanayo TV.
“If you’re a new face, come on, let’s do magic on Kanayo O. Kanayo TV. Let’s create stories with people who can deliver, who can act,” he urged.
While expressing disappointment at what he called a “cycle of mistakes” in Nigeria’s creative industry, the actor remained optimistic that the obsession with appearance and hype would eventually fade.
“I don’t know why when things come to Nigeria, there’s always a somersault, and this somersault is happening now on YouTube,” he lamented. “But I want to employ my life’s philosophy to say: this too shall pass.”
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