Kanayo O. Kanayo warns YouTube trend is killing Nollywood’s new talents

Veteran Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has raised alarm over what he describes as a growing monopoly in Nigeria’s film industry, warning that YouTube producers are sidelining fresh talents in favour of a handful of “selling faces.”

Speaking during a recent broadcast, Kanayo drew parallels with the early years of Nollywood, recalling how sponsors once branded certain actors as unmarketable, leading to the abrupt end of many promising careers.

“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. I can mention names, but for the sanctity of this broadcast, I won’t,” he said.

According to him, a similar trend is re-emerging on digital platforms. “The acclaimed YouTube faces are beginning to bring up the same thing, killing talents in the industry,” he lamented.

The actor criticised the monopolisation of roles by a small circle of actors who dominate YouTube productions, warning that it stifles creativity and blocks new entrants. “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 encourage new actors to come into the business?” he asked.

Kanayo stressed that producers should cast actors based on ability rather than 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 emphasised.

Reaffirming his commitment to developing fresh talent, he invited aspiring actors to join his platform, Kanayo O. Kanayo TV on YouTube. “If you’re a new face, come on, let’s do magic on Kanayo O. Kanayo TV. Let’s create stories with people who can deliver, who can act,” he urged.

While voicing frustration at what he sees as Nigeria’s tendency to “somersault” in the creative space, Kanayo expressed optimism that the current obsession with YouTube faces would eventually fade. “This too shall pass,” he concluded.