Nollywood Is Beyond Fine Faces Now — Kanayo O. Kanayo

Kanayo O. Kanayo, a veteran Nollywood actor, has expressed worry over what he called a troubling trend in Nigeria’s film industry, particularly on YouTube, where casting is increasingly determined more by appearance and popularity than by actual acting talent.

As one of Nollywood’s most recognizable pioneers, Kanayo O. Kanayo originally gained notoriety for his part in the 1992 movie “Living in Bondage.”

Having worked in the field for over thirty years, he has steadily gained enough expertise to be able to spot talent, professionalism, and quality in filmmaking with ease.

The seasoned actor recently announced a change in his own strategy in a video message posted on his Instagram page. He promised to focus on working with up-and-coming and under-known talents instead of pursuing well-known celebrities.

“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.”

“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 expressed disapproval of what he perceives to be the monopolization of roles by a select few performers who control YouTube productions, arguing that this practice hinders creativity and leaves up-and-coming talent stuck.

“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.”

Credit: Daily Post