Veteran Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has raised alarm over what he describes as a troubling trend in the Nigerian movie industry, particularly on YouTube. He believes casting decisions are increasingly based on popularity and physical appearance rather than genuine acting talent.
In a video shared on his Instagram page, Kanayo declared that he is taking control of his career.
“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,” he said.
Reflecting on Nollywood’s early years, the actor recalled how certain sponsors branded actors as “unsellable,” a move that damaged careers and stifled the growth of the industry.
“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,” he explained.
Kanayo warned that a similar issue is emerging on YouTube, where a small circle of actors are repeatedly cast at the expense of fresh talent.
“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 further criticised the “monopoly of faces,” which he said limits creativity and makes it difficult to bring new performers into Nollywood.
“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?”
For Kanayo, true recognition should come from skill, not popularity.
“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.
Despite his frustration, the actor expressed optimism that the industry would correct itself.
“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,” he concluded.
