Veteran Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has urged Ghanaian actors to negotiate their movie fees according to their individual experience, reputation and market value rather than expecting to receive the same payment as more established Nigerian actors.

Kanayo made the remarks after travelling to Accra, Ghana, for a new movie project involving actors from both countries.

Story Snapshot

• Kanayo O. Kanayo addressed differences in actor fees during a movie production in Ghana.
• He said actors should negotiate based on their own experience, reputation and market value.
• Kanayo argued that performers in the industry occupy different levels based on their careers and professional standing.
• He cautioned Ghanaian actors against comparing their fees with those paid to Nigerian actors.
• The veteran actor ended his warning with the remark that he would “invoke Amadioha” if the comparisons continued.

What Prompted Kanayo’s Warning?

According to the report, Kanayo’s comments came after he travelled to Accra, Ghana, for a movie project involving Nigerian and Ghanaian actors.

He said some Ghanaian actors sometimes expect to receive fees similar to those paid to their Nigerian colleagues when both groups appear in the same production.

For Kanayo, however, actors should negotiate independently rather than use another performer’s earnings as the benchmark for their own payment.

His argument was that factors such as career experience, popularity, reputation and market value can influence what an actor commands in a production.

Kanayo Explains His Position

Kanayo stressed that there is a hierarchy within the movie industry and argued that actors should understand their individual positions when negotiating fees.

He said:

“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.”

The veteran actor maintained that an actor’s negotiation should be based on his or her own professional standing rather than on comparisons with established performers.

He added:

“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.”

His Message to Ghanaian Actors

Kanayo further advised Ghanaian actors to concentrate on negotiating what they believe their own services are worth.

He said:

“Tell your Ghanaian brothers and sisters, it is not your business what they pay Nigerian actors. 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.”

The remark about Amadioha became the most striking part of his warning, but the broader point of his comments centred on individual negotiation and differences in professional standing.

Why the Comments Matter

Kanayo’s remarks highlight one of the practical issues that can arise when performers from different entertainment markets work together on the same production.

His position is that actors should not automatically expect identical fees simply because they are participating in the same project. Instead, he argues that negotiations can take into account an individual’s experience, reputation, popularity and market value.

The supplied report does not provide specific figures for what Nigerian or Ghanaian actors were paid, so no conclusion can be drawn about actual differences in compensation from the information available.

What is clear from Kanayo’s remarks is that he believes individual professional value should remain central to fee negotiations.

A Cross-Border Movie Production

The comments came in the context of a new movie project involving performers from Nigeria and Ghana.

That cross-border setting gives Kanayo’s remarks an industry dimension beyond his personal experience. However, the supplied report does not identify the movie’s title, production budget or the specific actors involved in the fee discussions.

The available information therefore supports reporting Kanayo’s position, but not broader claims about how Ghanaian or Nigerian actors are generally paid across the industry.

Final Editorial Wrap-Up

Kanayo O. Kanayo’s message to Ghanaian actors was ultimately centred on individual negotiation. He argued that performers should assess their own experience, reputation and market value instead of measuring their fees against those of more established Nigerian actors.

His reference to Amadioha gave the warning its most memorable line, but the central issue remains his view that actors should negotiate according to their own professional standing.