“Nollywood Was Forged in Tears, Sweat, and Blood,” Says Veteran Actor Kanayo O. Kanayo
Esteemed Nollywood veteran Kanayo O. Kanayo has reminded the industry that its current strength is rooted in the unwavering dedication and sacrifices of its early pioneers.
Via his Instagram post on Monday, Kanayo starkly illustrated the intense demands placed on early filmmakers, so extreme, he quipped, that Hollywood star Denzel Washington would have “turned to charcoal” under such working conditions. These grind-it-all-week demands are the true testament to how Nollywood was built: not by ease, but by what he described as “tears, sweat, and blood”.
Despite the arduous environment and physically taxing routines, Kanayo expressed gratitude that many of those early pioneers still enjoy good health today. He recalled that their era relied on rudimentary gear, like the “2K” light, and noted:
“If they bring one 2K on you, they will remove it from your name,” signaling how synonymous individuals became with the tools and challenges of their time.