Veteran Nollywood actor, Anayo Modestus Onyekwere, popularly known as Kanayo O. Kanayo, has criticised wealthy Nigerian men who spend lavishly on actresses in the entertainment industry.
The 62-year-old actor said that such financial support creates the perception that male actors are not working hard.
According to the veteran actor during a recent episode of “The Honest Bunch” podcast, financial disparities between entertainers, jeopardises the careers of their male counterparts.
“Many Nigerian rich men patronize our women and give them benefits that make us look like we are not working hard. Nigerian rich men spend money on our girls to the extent that it impoverishes us and makes it look like we don’t work hard,” he said.
Kanayo elaborated on the disparity: “You call a girl, she says she wants to do a production, she’s your girlfriend from whatever benefits she gives you. How much is she asking for this production, N150m, N100m? But me wey be KOK, go and work hard my friend, we all men.”
The veteran actor further pointed out that male actors often face financial difficulties without any support: “It’s not a good situation. Have you seen any lady ask for financial help for medical expenses? No, it’s only the men. We are an endangered species.
“Many girls are desperate to act, telling a man do with me whatever you want. When you offer a man and say, Oga give me that role, I will come to your hotel, what is this, I am not a child. What do you expect?” he queried.
The veteran actor said it’s now a trend for actresses to undergo cosmetic surgery to fit into the industry.
“You go do BBL, you have it and puff it up. Most of the girls are coming to Nollywood to learn how to act. You don’t come to Nollywood to learn how to act; you come to Nollywood to exploit your trade and make it better. Acting is in you, if it’s not in you, go and sell crayfish,” he added.
Kanayo further spoke on lack of unity within the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN). He lamented that many actors who have achieved stardom fail to participate in guild activities.
“People who hit stardom say, ‘I have no business with this.’ There needs to be a clarion call for everybody to know that we are better off being under a guild, We are better of being under an association, protecting our general interest.
“But when you have people who do not have that kind of feeling it becomes bad. So, it’s a work in progress, its the continuum to call on the actress and AGN president, which is executive to keep on working to bring in actors together and for actors to know, not just when we go for burial hours, not when we have candle nght. Team work makes the gym walk that we need to work as a team and we will have more respect if we work as an association that we have more respect,” he said.
