Veteran Nollywood actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo, has voiced strong concerns about what he described as a disturbing trend in Nigeria’s film industry, especially on YouTube where casting is now driven more by popularity and appearance than genuine acting ability.
Born Anayo Modestus Onyekwere, Kanayo O. Kanayo is regarded as one of Nollywood’s most iconic pioneers, having come into the limelight with his role in the 1992 blockbuster Living in Bondage.
With more than three decades in the industry, he has consistently positioned himself as a defender of talent, quality, and professionalism in filmmaking.
In a video message shared on his Instagram page on Monday, the seasoned actor announced a shift in his own approach, pledging to concentrate on working with new and under-recognized performers rather than chasing after already popular names.
“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.”
He drew parallels with the early years of Nollywood when, according to him, sponsors and promoters sidelined promising actors who did not appear marketable, thereby ending many careers prematurely.
“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 the same destructive trend is now returning through 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 criticised what he sees as the monopolization of roles by a small group of actors who dominate YouTube-based productions, insisting that this practice stifles innovation and leaves new talents stranded.
“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.
The actor reaffirmed his commitment to grooming fresh talents through his YouTube channel, *Kanayo O. Kanayo TV,* while urging other stakeholders to value ability 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.
He expressed frustration at the cycle of repeating mistakes in Nigeria’s creative space, but remained hopeful 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 now on YouTube. But I want to employ my life’s philosophy to say: this too shall pass.”
