Kanayo O. Kanayo, the veteran Nollywood actor, has spoken about the struggles and sacrifices that helped shape the Nigerian movie industry into what it is today.
Kanayo shared his thoughts in a commentary on Instagram, where he reflected on the dedication and effort that many actors and filmmakers put into building Nollywood from scratch.
The actor, who has featured in several popular movies since the early 1990s, compared the level of commitment in Nollywood to that of Hollywood. Referring to American actor Denzel Washington, Kanayo said the hours invested in Nigerian film productions were so intense that they could change a person physically.
According to him, “If Denzel Washington puts in the number of hours I put in production here, his colour will change to charcoal the next day. Because we built this industry with tears, sweat, and blood.”
Kanayo explained that the industry was not created overnight but through years of sacrifice, hard work, and resilience from actors, directors, and crew members.
He stressed that Nollywood was built under very tough conditions, with little or no equipment to support production.
Recalling the early years of filmmaking in Nigeria, the actor noted how limited resources made production difficult. He said, “We started this industry at a time when there was a light called 2K. If they bring one 2K on you, they will remove from your name.”
Despite these challenges, Kanayo expressed gratitude that many Nollywood actors who passed through such stressful times are still in good health today.
“Some of us are lucky to still have our health in good place,” he stated.
