Tag: Kanayo

Veteran actor Kanayo Kanayo has expressed concerns over the resurgence of bias against talented actors in the industry.

He lamented on Instagram that some sponsors are once again prioritising popularity over talents, stifling the careers of skilled actors who may not fit the traditional mold of a “marketable” star.

This trend, Kanayo warned, is detrimental to the industry’s growth and creativity, as it overlooks the very talent that drives artistic innovation and excellence.

Kanayo said: “I have decided to take my destiny into my own hands as it pertains to my channel on YouTube. I have decided to tell a good story. It doesn’t have to be with a fine face. Movie-making is not about being a fine face. It’s about being a good actor, a good performer. If you don’t like it, that’s unfortunate.

Read Also: Get married, pursue PhD or leave my house by 27 – Kanayo tells daughter on 25th birthday

“What happened years ago, when some sponsors killed the careers of talented actors whom they believed could not sell films, is beginning to rear its ugly head. The acclaimed YouTube faces are beginning to bring up the same thing: killing the talent in the industry.

“Some of these guys will tell you they are not free from September 2025 till August 2026. How do we sustain the content of what you watch? How then do we create magic? How do we create stories or encourage new actors to come into the business if it’s only the self-acclaimed faces on YouTube? It’s not good for the industry.”

He invited new actors to collaborate with him on his Youtube channel, aiming to create magic and promote innovative storytelling. 

Actor and producer Kanayo has celebrated his daughter Valerie’s birthday as he encourages her to take time for self-reflection on her special day, considering what to emulate, what to let go of, and what’s truly important.

Kanayo addressed their shared issue of his frequent travels, reassuring Uloaku that his busy schedule is a sign of his success as an actor.

He jokingly sets a deadline for her to achieve certain milestones by 2027, whether that’s getting married, pursuing a PhD, or moving out of his house.

Read Also: Kanayo condemns excessive checkpoints in South East

Kanayo wrote: “My dear daughter, Uloaku( Bank/ house of wealth) CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 25th birthday. From little Valerie to a prospective Madam Uloaku. As I told you this morning while praying for you, it should be a day of SOBER REFLECTIONS. THINGS TO COPY, THINGS TO PASTE. THINGS TO DELETE. What realities there are and the facade of things thereof.

“Your issue with me has always been ” you are always travelling, hardly at home”. Uloaku, GOOD ACTORS travel, always on the move because they are always HIRED. Thank God I am still VERY ACTIVE and relevant. Try and tolerate me. In all these, please ensure that before 2027, you are either walking DOWN THE AISLE , GOING FOR YOUR PhD or walking out of my house. Simpliciter. Ka Chukwu Okike Abiama gozierem Uloaku. Your dad”.

Veteran actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has shared his insights on why many women find themselves unmarried in their 30s.

According to him, the choices they made in their younger years are often the primary reason for their singleness.

Kanayo explained that many women in their 20s tend to date older, married men who are wealthy, rather than younger, prospective husbands.

He noted that these women often prioritise material comforts over the possibility of building a life with someone their age.

Kanayo argued that by the time these women reach their late 20s and early 30s, they have limited options for marriage.

Read Also: Kanayo condemns excessive checkpoints in South East

He emphasised that men tend to lose interest in women who are perceived as “over the hill” and that these women are often left praying for a husband, having declared their lives a “state of emergency.”

Speaking in a recent interview with News Central, Kanayo said, “A young girl will be in university at 18, 19, 20; she starts dating a very rich guy, who is sometimes very old too. Then what you see along the line is that, because the guy is very rich and probably married, she refuses the advances of other younger people because the guy has either gotten her a car or a house. So to her, she’s operating on a very high level.

“From 22, she goes on to 24, and maybe even if she quarrels with this guy, she gets the next guy. And before you know it, she turns 25, 26 unmarried because she refuses the advances of younger prospective husbands. She gets to 29 and 30; by that time, she has left university and men are no longer finding her that attractive.

“So she gets to 31, and the husband is not coming. And what do you have? At 23, she’s a flex. At 28, she becomes a prayer point. After 33, she’s declared a state of emergency. Because husbands will not come at that level of 33 years. Some of them get to 35 unmarried. And they still think that they are having fun. They are not having fun. They are now in a state of emergency praying that God brings anyone.”

Veteran actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has highlighted the importance of gratitude in relationships.

He expressed concern over the increasing trend of ingratitude, where people receive favours or help without showing appreciation.

Kanayo specifically pointed out instances where people send money to others, only to receive a curt “seen” in response.

He urged his followers to cultivate gratitude, noting that unspoken appreciation is equivalent to ingratitude.

He reminded everyone that nobody owes anyone anything and that gratitude encourages others to continue showing kindness.

Read Also: Don’t accept offers that come with disrespect – Kanayo advises

“Hello, my friends, I have one question. Why are people very ungrateful?”

“You do somebody a favour by sending him or her money and the person receives it and sends you a text saying ‘seen’. Seen? Come on! Do you think it’s your right? That’s an inheritance mentality; people are like this and it doesn’t show that you are ungrateful.

“Look, gratitude unspoken is ingratitude spoken. It’s not your right so learn to be grateful for whatever someone does for you. That way, the person will be encouraged to do more. Stop being selfish; be grateful because nobody owes you anything. Have a beautiful week ahead”, he said on Instagram.

Veteran actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has shared a powerful message on his Instagram page, urging his fans and followers to prioritise self-respect and dignity in their lives.

He emphasised that regardless of one’s financial struggles, it is essential to decline offers that come with disrespect, as such compromises can have long-lasting negative consequences.

Read Also: Men are endangered species – Kanayo

“No matter how broke you are, learn not to accept offers that come with disrespect”, he wrote on Instagram.

Veteran actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has criticised the common practice of wealthy men financially supporting actresses while their male counterparts struggle to make ends meet.

Kanayo lamented that this disparity creates a false narrative that male actors are not working hard enough when in reality, they often lack similar financial backing.

Read Also: I put more effort in acting than Hollywood’s Denzel Washington – Kanayo

He emphasised that men in the industry are being marginalised and labelled as “endangered species.”

Kanayo spoke on a recent episode of ‘The Honest Bunch’ podcast co-hosted by Husband Material, and Deity Cole.

He said: “Many Nigerian rich men patronise our women and give them benefits that make us look like we are not working hard,” he lamented.

“Nigerian rich men, most of them spend money on our girls to the extent that it impoverishes us. You call a girl, she’s your girlfriend, she says she wants to do a production and demand N100 million to N150 million and you give her. But if na me wey be KOK, you’ll say ‘go and work hard, my friend.’

“Let’s look into this issue because have you seen any lady ask for financial help for any medical expenses? It’s only the men. We are an endangered species, that’s what I am saying.”

Veteran actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo, has stated that he puts in more effort in his acting roles than Hollywood actor, Denzel Washington.

He made this claim on the Honest Bunch podcast, saying that if Denzel Washington worked as hard as he does, his skin colour would change to charcoal.

“If Denzel Washington puts in the number of hours I put in a production here, his colour will change to charcoal the next day,” Kanayo said.

Kanayo also compared his movie roles to those of Arnold Schwarzenegger, emphasising that bad roles do not make bad actors.

He shared stories about the early days of Nollywood, recounting how American actors from New York studied the industry in 1992 and were impressed by the efforts and technicalities involved in production.

“They have come to under-study us. Americans from New York came to study us, they said guys, ‘we see some efforts here and there, these things take us about one month to sort, how come you achieve it in one week?’ So it was now a course of study for them, they saw the zeal we put in”, he said.

He noted that veteran actors like Richard Mofe Damijo and himself have more patience and have sacrificed a lot to build the industry.

“We built this industry with tears, sweat, and blood; some of us are lucky to still have our health in good place. We started the industry at time when there was a light called two-kay. It was so hot. If two-kay falls on you or you go too close, all your hair will run.

“We have seen 99, 100 is nothing. And we can’t now come to this age where we allow everything to go. Don’t forget I am 62 and I am not in a hurry to check out, but I want a situation where at 70, 75, 80, and 90 as God would give life, I will still be acting. So I don’t want little people who don’t know anything about the industry to dig the grave from the leg,” the actor said.

Read Also: Why I don’t believe in Monogamy, by Kanayo

Reacting to how he has remained relevant in the industry amid ritual speculations, Kanayo clarified that he has simply put in effort to take care of his health and remain professional.

“The fact is this; I have never gone anywhere at 1 am to be more successful than anybody or more relevant than anybody.

“Maybe there’s an unseen finger or hand that has said, ‘let him continue doing what he is doing.’ I am not the best actor, even though I have won the best actor at AMAA Awards in 2006.

“But the fact is I am a professional to the core, I try to do things, I try to observe things. For instance, health-wise I have tried as much as I can on my own because I have tried as much as I can to take care of my health and obey the call of nature myself,” Kanayo said.

Kanayo also advised fellow actors to prioritise their health, as there is no insurance in the industry, and shooting a full movie in one day can be detrimental to their well-being.

“Unfortunately, there is no insurance in the industry by which we can draw from a pool, you only earn when you are working; there is no royalty. When you are not working, then you are not earning,” Kanayo added.