Veteran Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has raised strong concerns over what he described as a troubling trend in Nigeria’s film industry, particularly on YouTube.
He stated that casting appears to be driven more by popularity and appearance than genuine acting skill.
In a video message shared on his Instagram page on Monday, the seasoned actor revealed that he was shifting his focus towards working with under-recognised and emerging talents, rather than chasing already popular names.
“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, that’s quite unfortunate,” Kanayo stated.
He likened the current YouTube trend to the early days of Nollywood, when sponsors and promoters sidelined promising actors they felt were not marketable, effectively ending many careers.
“About 25 years ago, some sponsors woke up and started branding actors: ‘this one is not good, this one doesn’t sell films.’ They killed the careers of those guys. Such a thing is beginning to rear its ugly head again,” he lamented.
Kanayo also criticised the monopolisation of roles by a small group of YouTube stars who dominate online productions.
Also, he warned that it stifles creativity and discourages new actors from joining the industry.
“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? Call me because I can deliver, not because I’m a selling face.”
The actor reaffirmed his commitment to grooming new talents through his YouTube channel, Kanayo O. Kanayo TV.
He urges industry stakeholders to prioritise ability over hype.
“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.”
Despite expressing frustration at what he described as a cycle of repeated mistakes in Nigeria’s creative space, Kanayo remained optimistic that the obsession with “faces” in Nollywood will eventually fade away.
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“I don’t know why when things come to Nigeria, there’s always a somersault. But this too shall pass,” he concluded.
