Veteran Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has raised concern about what he sees as a growing problem in the Nigerian movie industry, especially with productions on YouTube.
Naija News reports that the thespian said that too much attention is now being given to actors who are considered popular faces, instead of focusing on true acting skills.
Kanayo, whose real name is Anayo Modestus Onyekwere, has been in the industry for more than three decades and is remembered for his role in the 1992 film Living in Bondage.
Over the years, he has remained one of the strong voices pushing for growth and quality in Nollywood.
In the message shared on his Instagram page, the actor explained that he would use his own platform to give chances to fresh talents who may not be widely known but can perform well.
He stated that movie production is not about appearance but about acting ability.
The actor recalled how in the early days of Nollywood, some sponsors sidelined actors because they believed certain faces could not sell movies, which led to many careers being cut short.
He said the same practice is reappearing today on digital platforms, with a small group of popular actors dominating the space while new talents struggle to break through.
According to him, relying only on a few familiar names discourages creativity and prevents upcoming actors from getting noticed.
He added that he does not want to be cast in movies simply because of his reputation but because of his ability to deliver.
Kanayo promised to keep supporting young and unknown actors through his YouTube channel, inviting them to work with him in creating original stories.
He expressed his frustration over the current situation but also remained hopeful that the industry would eventually overcome this challenge.
He said: “I have decided to take my destiny in my own hands as it pertains to my platform on YouTube. 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.
“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.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
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