Veteran Nollywood actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo, has expressed concern over what he described as a growing culture of prioritising popularity over acting talent in Nigeria’s film industry, particularly in YouTube-based productions.
The 62-year-old actor, born Anayo Modestus Onyekwere, made his remarks in a video message shared on Instagram on Monday. He said he has resolved to focus on discovering and working with less-celebrated but gifted actors through his YouTube platform.
“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 stated.
Kanayo, who shot to fame with his role in the 1992 Nollywood classic Living in Bondage, recalled how in the early years of the industry, sponsors sidelined talented actors in favour of commercially appealing faces. According to him, the same trend is re-emerging on modern streaming 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 warned.
He criticised the dominance of a few popular actors who, he said, stifle opportunities for others. “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 encourage new actors to come into the business?” he asked.
Kanayo stressed that his priority is performance, not fame, urging producers to cast him and others based on talent rather than name recognition. He also called on emerging actors to collaborate with him on his channel, Kanayo O. Kanayo TV.
“If you’re a new face, come on, let’s do magic… let’s create stories with people who can deliver, who can act,” he urged.
The Nollywood pioneer concluded with cautious optimism, noting that while the industry faces challenges, they will eventually be overcome: “This too shall pass.”
