Kanayo O. Kanayo
Nollywood veteran Kanayo O. Kanayo has stirred a fresh Ghana–Nigeria debate after telling Ghanaian actors to stop asking for the same fees as top Nigerian stars on joint movie projects. Speaking to the press in Ghana, where he is filming LilWin’s cross-border movie A Journey to Africa (Nzulezu), the actor popularly called KOK said there is a pecking order in the film business and every actor should negotiate their own pay.
His comments, which went viral on Sunday, October 4, 2026, have quickly become one of the most talked-about entertainment stories in both countries.
What Kanayo O. Kanayo Said
KOK pointed to his long career as the reason he believes he should not be compared with younger Ghanaian actors. He described himself as one of the people who built Nollywood from the start.
“I am KOK. I was among the founding fathers. You now wake up in Ghana… They call KOK to come and act in Ghana; you Ghanaian boy will now insist they pay you the same fees as me. There is hierarchy even in heaven. In the movie industry, there is hierarchy,” he said, according to GhanaWeb.
He then gave a direct piece of advice to the Ghanaian actors involved.
“Negotiate what you want to be paid. Don’t equate yourself with me. Tell your Ghanaian brothers and sisters, it is not your business what they pay Nigerian actors,” he added.
In typical KOK style, he ended with a playful warning: “Go and negotiate your own, receive it and go and rest, and then you will have peace in your life; otherwise, I will invoke Amadioha.” Amadioha is the Igbo deity of thunder, a name Nigerian movie fans know well from classic Nollywood films.
A Real Pay Dispute on Set
According to reports, the veteran said his comments were based on an actual fee disagreement on the project he is currently shooting in Ghana. However, he did not name the Ghanaian actors involved.
Quick Facts
- Who: Nollywood veteran Kanayo O. Kanayo (KOK)
- Where: In Ghana, during the production of LilWin’s A Journey to Africa (Nzulezu)
- Main message: Ghanaian actors should negotiate their own fees and not compare their pay with Nigerian stars
- Key line: “There is hierarchy even in heaven.”
- Other Nollywood stars on the project: Patience Ozokwor, Mike Ezuruonye, Zubby Michael and Destiny Etiko
The Bigger Story Behind the Comments
KOK’s remarks did not come out of nowhere. For the past week, LilWin’s new movie has been at the centre of a heated conversation about how Ghanaian and Nigerian actors are treated and paid.
The Kumawood star brought several big Nollywood names to Ghana for the film, with the Nigerian actors arriving on September 30. Shortly after, LilWin explained why he chose to work with Nigerians over many of his Ghanaian colleagues. Speaking to bloggers, he said Nigerian actors read his script and signed contracts within a day, while some Ghanaian actors did not even answer simple calls.
He also argued that Nigerian stars bring a wider fan base that can help an international project reach more viewers. Those comments upset some people in the Ghanaian movie industry.
The project has also raised questions about money. LilWin recently admitted that he has been losing sleep over the unpaid balance he owes the Nollywood stars on the film, showing just how costly the production has been.
KOK Also Explains Why Nollywood Is Ahead
In separate comments reported on Sunday, Kanayo also shared his views on why Nigeria’s film industry has grown faster than Ghana’s. He said many Nigerians stayed and learned the trade under tough conditions, while some Ghanaians who started the same training in Nigeria left too early.
“Some Ghanaians learned the trade for 9 months and said we have learnt the trade now and left. That’s why Ghana’s industry is not as prosperous as Nigerians,” he said, as reported by Pulse Ghana.
He also pointed to money as a big difference between the two industries. “You need to understand there are more rich men in Nigeria than Ghana. More rich men who are more generous,” he explained, adding that the early Nollywood pioneers sometimes made movies with very little.
A Familiar Conversation
The debate about the state of Ghana’s film industry has been running for days. Fellow Nollywood legend Pete Edochie, who is also in the country, recently appealed to President Mahama not to let Ghana’s movie industry die, calling Ghana his second home.
Why the Comments Have Struck a Nerve
The video of KOK’s remarks has been widely shared on X and picked up by major entertainment outlets in both Ghana and Nigeria. It lands at a sensitive time, coming just days after LilWin’s comments about Ghanaian actors and the wider talk about the health of Ghana’s film industry.
The topic touches on a long-running rivalry between Nollywood and Ghallywood fans, and on a practical question many cross-border productions now face: how to set fair fees when big-name Nigerian stars and local Ghanaian actors share the same set.
Who Is Kanayo O. Kanayo?
Kanayo O. Kanayo is one of Nollywood’s most recognisable faces. He rose to fame in the early 1990s and became a household name through classic films, often playing powerful and feared characters. Over the years, he has also become known for speaking his mind on issues affecting the movie industry.
He was among the first group of Nollywood stars who landed in Ghana for LilWin’s A Journey to Africa, alongside Zubby Michael, Patience Ozokwor and others.
What Happens Next
Filming on A Journey to Africa (Nzulezu) continues in Ghana. So far, neither LilWin nor the Ghanaian actors KOK referred to have publicly responded to his comments. Fans will be watching closely to see whether the pay debate affects the project, or whether it simply adds more buzz ahead of the movie’s release.
For now, one thing is clear: KOK has once again shown he is not afraid to say exactly what he thinks, and his words have sparked a conversation that will not die down anytime soon.
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