In a video message shared on Instagram, the 62-year-old thespian stressed that movie-making should be about performance, not appearance.
> “Movie-making is not about being a fine face. It’s about being a good actor, a good performer. With or without a fine face, that’s what I’ve decided to do,” he said.
Kanayo recalled how, over two decades ago, sponsors and marketers destroyed the careers of many promising actors by branding them as “unsellable,” warning that Nollywood risks repeating the same mistake.
> “About 25 years ago, some sponsors woke up and they were branding the actors. ‘This one is not a good one. This one does not sell films.’ They killed the career of those guys. I can mention names, but for the sanctity of this broadcast, I am not going to,” he recounted.
He expressed concern that the new wave of “YouTube faces” is limiting opportunities for emerging talents, as producers continue to recycle the same few popular actors.
> “The most unfortunate thing is that some of these guys will tell you, ‘September 2025, I am not free till August 2026.’ How then do we sustain content? How do we create magic? How do we encourage new actors to come into the business?” he asked.
Kanayo emphasized that producers should call him and others based on their ability to deliver, not just their market value, warning that Nollywood must avoid another destructive cycle.
> “I don’t know why, when things come to Nigeria, there’s always a somersault. And the somersault is happening on YouTube,” he added.…….CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
