Entertainment of 2026-10-15
Boring Sex, Richer Nigerians, Acting Hierarchy: 4 things Kanayo said that angered Ghanaians
When veteran Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo arrived in Ghana, many expected him to enjoy his stay and work on LilWin's upcoming movie with some of Nigeria's biggest stars.
However, his visit took a controversial turn as some of his comments about Ghana sparked debate and angered many Ghanaians.
The actor made some statements about Ghanaian women, wealthy individuals, and the local movie industry, touching on sensitive topics such as the long-standing Ghana-Nigeria rivalry and the relationship between the two countries' film industries.
Some of his remarks were particularly blunt, with the actor openly comparing Ghanaian actors with himself and questioning whether they could match his acting abilities.
Here are four statements by Kanayo O. Kanayo that generated strong reactions from some Ghanaians:
‘Ghanaian girls are boring in bed’
The Ghana-Nigeria rivalry is often centered on debates about which country makes the best jollof rice.
However, Kanayo O. Kanayo took the conversation in a different direction when he was asked to choose between Ghanaian and Nigerian jollof. The veteran actor compared the question to asking which country's women are better in bed and went on to claim that Ghanaian women were less adventurous than Nigerian women.
'Negotiate your own fees' – Kanayo tells Ghanaian actors comparing pay with Nigerians
“This question is akin to asking which women are sweeter in bed, Nigerian or Ghanaian girls. Ghanaian girls are boring in bed; they just open their legs and say, ‘Do it for me.’ Nigerian girls are more active in bed,” Kanayo said.
This comment went beyond the usual friendly rivalry between Ghanaians and Nigerians, touching on a personal subject that many considered disrespectful to Ghanaian women.
‘There are more rich and generous men in Nigeria than in Ghana’
The actor also questioned the generosity of wealthy Ghanaians, claiming that Nigeria had more rich and generous men than Ghana.
According to him, the availability of wealthy and generous individuals in Nigeria had helped Nollywood grow into a major film industry, while the lack of such people in Ghana was the reason the country’s movie industry was not thriving.
“There are more rich and generous men in Nigeria than in Ghana. Some wealthy Nigerian men can lose $20,000 and still say, ‘Don’t worry, I know what happened.’ You don’t have it. When we started, some women made movies with the cooking allowances their husbands gave them. There is no such thing in Ghana,” he stated.
‘Don’t equate yourself with me’
Kanayo O Kanayo also sparked controversy with his comments about the fees Ghanaian actors should demand when working with their Nigerian counterparts.
The veteran actor argued that some Ghanaian actors expect to receive the same payment as Nigerian stars simply because they are simply appearing in the same production.
He disagreed with that position, insisting that the movie industry operates on a hierarchy and that actors should negotiate their fees based on their individual standing rather than expect equal payment.
He maintained that Ghanaian actors should not concern themselves with how much Nigerian actors are paid and should instead negotiate the fees they believe they deserve.
Although differences in pay are common in the entertainment industry, his choice of words made the argument particularly contentious.
His remarks appeared to place Ghanaian actors below him in the industry's pecking order, raising questions about respect had for Ghanaian actors.
“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. 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 stated.
‘No Ghanaian actor can stand me’
If his comments about actors' fees were controversial, Kanayo’s challenge to Ghanaian actors to prove their acting abilities took the debate a step further.
The veteran actor questioned whether any Ghanaian actor could match his performance when given a script, suggesting that his experience and talent places him above his counterparts in Ghana.
Rather than simply point to his years in the industry or his body of work, Kanayo called for a direct contest in which he and a Ghanaian actor would receive scripts and demonstrate their abilities.
He said he wants a competition that would allow both sides to showcase their talent, but his declaration that no Ghanaian actor could stand him made the challenge sound more like a dismissal of Ghanaian acting talent, which many disagreed with the veteran.
Kanayo said: “I want a competition where a Ghanaian actor is given a script, I am given a script, and we meet to exchange our talents. That's the competition I want. None can stand me.”
@yamedia4 Nigerian Stars Speak for the First Time on Lil Win’s “Journey to Africa” Movie — Kanayo Kanayo Says Ghana Hasn’t Finished Learning From Nigeria! 🇬🇭🇳🇬 #yamedia #journeytoAfrica #lilwinmovie ♬ Levinny_Pain - Levinny Pode🐃
@anigyietv3 No Ghanaian Actor Can Compete With Me in Acting!" - Kanayo O. Kanayo & Mama G Fires!🔥🔥🔥@Lil Win ♬ original sound - ANIGYIE TV
@yamedia4 Is not your business how much the pay us kanayo kanayo send w@rning to Ghanaian Actors who refuse to join Lilwin movie journey to Africa #yamedia #journeytoAfrica #lilwin ♬ original sound - DJSHANE God is the greatest 🙌
@anigyietv3 KANAYO O. KANAYO FIRES! "I Entered the Movie Industry Before Pete Edochie! No Ghanaian Actor Can Compete With Me in Acting!" @Lil Win ♬ original sound - ANIGYIE TV
@yamedia4 Nigerian Stars Speak for the First Time on Lil Win’s “Journey to Africa” Movie — Kanayo Kanayo Says Ghana Hasn’t Finished Learning From Nigeria! 🇬🇭🇳🇬 #yamedia #journeytoAfrica #lilwinmovie ♬ Levinny_Pain - Levinny Pode🐃
AK/EB
