Kanayo O. Kanayo

Kanayo O. Kanayo Basic Information

Stage Name:	Kanayo O. Kanayo/ KOK
Real Name:	Anayo Modestus Onyekwere
Occupation:	Actor, Politician, and Lawyer
Date Of Birth/Age:	1 March 1962 (62 Years Old)
Place of Birth:	Mbaise, Imo State
Gender:	Male
Nationality:	Nigerian
Marital Status:	Married
Education:	St. Joseph primary school Secondary Technical School, Aba. The University of Lagos. University of Abuja The Nigerian Law School
Height:	5Ft 9In
Net Worth:	$3 Million

Kanayo O. Kanayo Biography

Kanayo was born on March 1st, 1962, and is an Imo State native from Nru Umueze Oboama Ezinihitte in the Mbaise Local Government Area. He was raised in Aba and attended St. Joseph primary school in Aba, Abia State. He attended Secondary Technical School in Aba for his secondary studies. He graduated from the University of Lagos with a degree in philosophy and diplomas in law and mass communication. He also completed a master’s program in political science. In addition, he graduated from the University of Abuja with a law degree in 2018 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2020.

Family

He was born into a family of Four children and was the second child. Sadly, only his two sisters are alive to date.

Parents

His parents’ names are Mr. Donatus Onyekwere and Ezinne Isabella Onyekwere.

Siblings

He had three siblings. An elder brother and two younger sisters.

Brother(s)

His elder brother John Onyekwere raised Kanayo O. Kanayo In Enugu State. Sadly, he is dead now.

Sister(s)

He has two younger sisters who go by Chinasaokwu and Cordelia.

Children

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Kanayo O. Kanayo loves and cares deeply for his wife. He and his wonderful wife have four children: a daughter named Uloaku Valerie Onyekwere and three sons named Kosisochukwu Montell, Einstein, and Clinton “Onye Eze Mbaise” Onyekwere.

Wife

In 1999, Kanayo O Kanayo wed the lovely Nneka Onyekwere, and the couple went on to have four children—three boys and a girl.

Lifestyle

Kanayo O Kanayo is renowned for its exact ritual and esoteric function. He is a legend in Nollywood and can play and interpret his part without the director’s direction. His audience often wondered why he perfectly analyzed such roles and speculated on his involvement with real-life practices. He has been in several Nollywood productions, such as “Lion Heart” and the sitcom “Professor John Bull.” However, he is best recognized for playing villains in much of his work, particularly in movies that deal with occult rituals.

It is significant to mention that Kanayo O. Kanayo began his acting career in 1982 by appearing in Nigerian Television Authority pictures. He made his screen debut in 1992’s “Living in Bondage.” He has appeared in more than 100 movies, and his performance in the film “Across the Niger” earned him a nomination for the 2008 African Movie Academy Award for Best Actor. His most recent motion pictures are “Up North” and the sequel “Living in Bondage: Breaking Free.”

He ran unsuccessfully in 2011 for the office of chair of the Imo State House of Representatives. In addition, he ran unsuccessfully in 2018 for the Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Mbaise representative position in the Federal House of Representatives.

A political appointment to the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Studies board came to him in 2013 from former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Additionally, Kanayo O. Kanayo is the proprietor of the KOKMA Mentoring Academy, through which he hopes to encourage young people to aim for even more outstanding achievements.

Throughout the centenary celebrations in 2014, the government honored several Nigerians, including Kanayo O. Kanayo. He holds the designation of MFR and is currently an ambassador for the UN. Kanayo, Kenneth Nnebue, Olu Jacobs, Enoch Adeboye, Queen Elizabeth, and Fela Kuti were a few of the Nigerians who received recognition from the government in 2014 during the centenary celebration. In addition, Nnebue produced the film “Living in Bondage,” which somehow marked a turnaround year for Nollywood.

He received the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2006 for his work in “Family Battle.” Throughout his acting career, he has won numerous accolades, including

• 2005 Most Prominent Actor in Nigeria at the African Movie Academy Awards.
• 2006 Best Actor in a Leading Role at the African Movie Academy Awards
• 2006 Best Actor in Nigeria at the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards.
• The Sun Award Winner 2020

Since then, Kanayo O. Kanayo has transitioned from acting to producing, directing, and filmmaking; he now operates a cybercafé in Lagos and manages a media consultancy business.

Net Worth

Without a doubt, one of the wealthiest Nollywood actors in Nigeria is Kanayo O Kanayo. As a businessman, Kanayo is considered worth $3 million and has landed many endorsement deals.

Cars

The seasoned Actor is renowned for having an outstanding choice in automobiles. His garage is home to a good collection of vehicles, including a 2012 Toyota Camry valued at N9.8 million, a 2007 Toyota Camry costing over 4.5 million, a Toyota Land Cruiser estimated to have cost him N30 million, and a Bentley Continental GT that cost around N71 million.

House

The seasoned Nollywood actor has a multimillion-naira property in his hometown of Aboh-Mbaise, Imo State. He held a formal opening ceremony for his mansion. He is also believed to own several other properties in Lagos and Asaba.

Movies & TV Shows

Since entering the industry, Kanayo O. Kanayo has been in over 250 Nollywood films, such as “Circles of Doom,” “Nneka,” “Billionaires Club,” “Rituals,” “Tears for Love,” “Living in Bondage,” “The Coven,” and “Blood Money.” In addition, he has appeared in Nollywood productions, such as the Globacom-backed sitcom,” Professor John Bull,” and the award-winning Netflix collaboration, “Lion Heart.” However, he is renowned for portraying villains in these projects, particularly in movies that deal with occult rituals. Additional films include:

• Nneka the Pretty Serpent as Emeka (1994)
• Festival of Fire (2002)
• October 1, as Okafor (2014)
• Celebrity Marriage as Mr. Gabriel (2017)
• Actor. Detour (2021)
• Living in Bondage: Breaking Free as Chief Emeka Omego (2019)
• Up North as Chief Otuekong (2018)
• Lionheart as Igwe Pascal (2018)
• High blood pressure (2010)
• Sin No More 1&2 (2008)
• Lost Kingdom
• Circle Of Doom (1993)
• Rituals (1997)
• Fire On The Mountain
• Billionaires Club
• Entangled
• Blood Money
• The Suitors
• Across The Niger

He has also been featured in the sitcoms like “The Village Headmaster” from 1966-1988, As “Okosun” in “Checkmate” from 1991-94, “Ripples,” “The New Masquerade,” and as “Professor Johnbull” in the Globacom Sponsored TV show with the same name.

Education

Saint Joseph Primary School and Boys Secondary School in Mbaise, Imo State, where he received his primary and secondary education. Technical College, Aba of Nigeria’s Abia State, is where he finished it. Kanayo O. Kanayo continued to the University of Lagos after that. From the University of Lagos, he earned a Master’s in Political Science and a Bachelor’s in Mass Communication. To transfer to The Nigerian Law School, Kanayo O. Kanayo returned to school in 2017 to earn a law degree from the University of Abuja.