Kanayo O. Kanayo Criticizes Nollywood’s “Fine Face” Trend, Urges Focus on Story and Realism
Celebrated Nollywood veteran Kanayo O. Kanayo has expressed concern over what he sees as a growing emphasis on aesthetics, particularly “fine faces,” in contemporary Nigerian filmmaking. Speaking in a recent interview, he emphasized that substance, not star looks, should define quality cinema.
Kanayo argued that the true essence of filmmaking lies in compelling storytelling:
“The film is not about fine faces but about telling a story and telling it well… People are looking for fine stories and that is what movie-making is all about.”
He reminisced about Nollywood’s beginnings, stating that it was imaginative narratives that originally attracted viewers, a standard he believes still applies on platforms like YouTube and Netflix today.
Highlighting his own work, Kanayo mentioned titles such as Weight of Loyalty and A Weekend with the In-laws, YouTube productions that have found success not because of popular faces but because of their narrative strength.