Kanayo O. Kanayo YouTube warning targets Nollywood’s obsession with faces over talent, as he pledges to promote fresh and under-recognized actors

Kanayo O. Kanayo YouTube remarks have stirred conversation after the Nollywood veteran voiced strong concerns about what he described as a troubling trend in Nigeria’s film industry.

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In a video message shared on Instagram, the actor lamented the growing preference for casting based on popularity and physical appearance, particularly on YouTube, rather than genuine acting skill.

“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.

The actor, whose real name is Anayo Modestus Onyekwere, rose to fame through the 1992 Nollywood classic Living in Bondage.

With over three decades in the industry, he has long positioned himself as a defender of quality, professionalism, and the nurturing of new talent.

Kanayo recalled how, in Nollywood’s early days, sponsors sidelined talented actors who were deemed unmarketable, leading to prematurely ended careers. He warned that a similar cycle is re-emerging on 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 said.

He criticized the monopolization of roles by a handful of popular YouTube actors, noting that many producers now struggle to book them for months, leaving little room for fresh talent.

“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?” Kanayo asked.

The actor pledged to focus his own YouTube platform, Kanayo O. Kanayo TV, on grooming new faces and providing opportunities for under-recognized talents.

“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.

Despite his frustration with the current state of the industry, Kanayo expressed optimism that Nollywood’s obsession with popularity over talent would not last forever.

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“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.