‘Don’t equate yourself with me’ – Kanayo fires back at Ghanaian actors demanding same fees as Nigerians

The veteran actor urged them to negotiate their own fees instead of comparing their pay with established Nigerian actors.

His comments came while working on LilWin’s A Journey to Africa (Nzulezu), which features several Ghanaian and Nollywood stars.

Veteran Nigerian actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has pushed back against some Ghanaian actors who, according to him, demand the same fees paid to Nigerian actors when they appear in the same movie.

Veteran Nigerian actor Kanayo O. Kanayo He said some Ghanaian actors question how much Nigerian actors are being paid and then ask producers to give them the same amount.

“I was among the founding fathers. Now you now rise up from Ghana. You now wake up in Ghana. They called KOK to come and act in Ghana and you, Ghanaian boy, will now insist they pay you the same fee as me,” he said.

Kanayo, popularly known as KOK, made the comments in a viral social media video after he joined the cast of Ghanaian actor and filmmaker Kwadwo Nkansah LilWin’s upcoming movie, A Journey to Africa (Nzulezu).

Kanayo said actors should instead negotiate based on their own experience, reputation and value to a production.

“There’s hierarchy even in heaven. In the movie industry there’s hierarchy. Negotiate what you want to be paid. Don’t equate yourself with me.”

“Tell your Ghanaian brothers and sisters that it’s not your business what they pay Nigerian actors. Go and negotiate your own and receive it,” he advised. 

The actor also claimed that the issue was not simply a general observation but had also come up during the Ghanaian production he is currently working on.

According to Kanayo, some actors on the project questioned the fees being paid to Nigerian performers. He said he was prepared to mention their names but decided against it after being advised not to.

“I’m One Of The Founding Fathers Of Movie-Making In Africa. Yet, When They Invite Me To Feature In a Movie In Ghana, Some Ghanaian Actors Expect To Be Paid The Same Fee As Me. Isn’t That Madness? There Is a Hierarchy In The Movie Industry. Even In Heaven, There Is Hierarchy. You Can’t Compare Yourselves With Me. Tell Your Ghanaian Brothers And Sisters It’s Not Your Business What They Pay Nigerian Actors.” ~ Nollywood Actor Kanayo O. Kanayo And Others Schools Ghanaian Actors…

His comments were made as several prominent Nollywood actors joined LilWin’s latest project.

Kanayo is in Ghana for LilWin’s A Journey to Africa (Nzulezu), a cross-border production that is bringing established Nigerian and Ghanaian actors together.

Lilwin welcomes Nollywood stars Patience Ozokwor, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Mike Ezuruonye and others a for his latest movie. #PulseEntertainment https://t.co/6o7FHpu5uQ

Patience Ozokwor, Mike Ezuruonye, Zubby Michael and Destiny Etiko are among the Nigerian actors who arrived in Ghana for A Journey to Africa (Nzulezu). 

Ghana and Nigeria have maintained close links in film for decades, with Nigerian productions enjoying a large audience in Ghana and Ghanaian actors also building careers in Nollywood. The two industries have increasingly worked together on productions featuring talent from both countries.