Veteran Nigerian filmmaker, Kanayo O Kanayo, has expressed concern that Nollywood is increasingly prioritizing looks and fame over talent, a trend he believes is stifling creativity and sidelining genuine actors.
In a video shared on his social media pages, Kanayo explained why he has decided to take a different path from most YouTube filmmakers.
He noted that acting should be about skill and delivery, not about who has the most attractive face.
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“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.
Kanayo linked this current problem to an experience from Nollywood’s early days. He recalled that more than two decades ago, some sponsors and investors began branding actors in ways that damaged their careers.
According to him, many were unfairly labeled as “not good enough” or “not marketable,” and those judgments ended the careers of some talented actors.
“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 said.
He mentioned that a small group of actors dominate YouTube productions because they are seen as “YouTube faces.”
Kanayo believes this trend creates a kind of monopoly that limits creativity and discourages new actors from breaking into the industry.
“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.
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He also asked how the industry can continue producing quality content if producers rely on such a small pool of actors who are hardly ever free.
“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?” he asked.
The veteran actor noted that he does not want to be chosen for roles because of his name or popularity. Instead, he wants producers to call him because of his ability to deliver good performances.
“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 said.
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