Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Nollywood megastar, Chief Anayo Modestus Onyekwere (a k.a) Kanayo O. Kanayo (KOK), has posited that the only reasonable and workable ritual for money and enduring wealth is hard-work and diligence.
The iconic actor made the submission while featuring at the rescheduled October Ikengaonline monthly town-hall meeting on Tuesday night.
He spoke on the theme: “Rituals, Riches, and Realities: The Myths of Money-Making and the Dignity of Labour.”
According to him, world celebrities and accomplished personalities have traceable addresses and legitimate means of livelihoods which have always evolved through dint of hard-work and diligence contrary to the craze about ‘blood money.’
The Mbaise, Imo State-born Nollywood superstar, Journalist and Lawyer, said he is a firm believer in hard-work, and urged youths to shun every unclean means of wealth.
“There is no substitute for hard-work,” he declared, recalling how he was able to rise to stardom through hard-work despite his humble background.
“My father was never affluent but he believed in hard-work. He was working at the dry-cleaning section at Aboh Mbaise General Hospital but he was always dedicated. I learned a lot of good values from him.”
KOK said although he had always played the odd part of money ritualist in a number of home movies, in real life, he had “never encountered, and will never have anything to do with blood ritual.”
“I started acting way back in 1992 when I played a role as Chief Omego, in Living in Bondage. Today in Nollywood, they refer to me as ‘Nna anyi sacrifice’ (our father of sacrifice). But my role in movies is different from my real life.
“The job of an actor is just to play a role in a movie, and who he is, is not defined by the role he plays. Movie making is a mirror of society.
“It’s stupid to believe that by killing somebody and eating the heart or drinking the blood you become wealthy. Recently it was reported that somebody killed his girlfriend and slept with the corpse for seven days all in the name of making money. What a stupid thing to do!”
Responding to a question on the negative impact of glamourisation of money rituals in home movies on the youths, he noted with regrets that some people only see movies without taking the message such a movie intends to project.
“People should take the message and not the messenger. There is a message every movie portrays, and that is very crucial.”
Insisting on the dignity of labour, the legendary actor urged youths to be patient and dedicated in their legitimate careers for economic prosperity.
“God cannot bless you unless you have something doing,” he said.
The virtual town-hall meeting co-hosted by Dr Osmund Agbo; and Dr Chido Onumah. drew participants from across the world.
It was transmitted live via Omalicha 91.1 FM Owerri; Ikengaonline Facebook; YouTube and other social media platforms.
Ikengaonline monthly town-hall meetings are meant to discuss topical issues affecting the South-East zone of Nigeria in particular, and the Nigeria state in general.
It features on the last Thursday of every month but the October edition could not hold due to some unforseen circumstances, hence, it was re-scheduled for Tuesday, November 7.
Former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking In Persons, Professor Joy Ezeilo, was the guest during September edition.
President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, featured in the August edition where he spoke on the topic, “A New Era for Ohanaeze: Navigating Challenges Embracing Potentials.”
Several other distinguished Igbo personalities had also featured in previous editions.
Ikengaonline is a South-East-focused online media outfit which aims at giving voice to citizens of the South-East, parts of Rivers and Delta states, and highlights the challenges facing the region.
Ikengaonline is a publication of Ikenga Media and Cultural Awareness Initiative (IMCAI), a non-profit entity that seeks to promote positive socio-cultural values, accountability and good governance through media and public education.
It is part of the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development Inclusivity and Accountability Project, a multi-level intervention for media independence and government accountability, managed by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) and supported by MacArthur Foundation.
