Kanayo O. Kanayo opens up about Olu Jacobs’ discipline on set and the quiet way he pushed younger actors, days after Jacobs’ death at 84.
You know those actors who just carry a certain weight when they walk into a room? That was Olu Jacobs, according to Kanayo O. Kanayo, and honestly, the stories he’s now sharing tell you everything about why Nollywood is still mourning him.
Speaking to BBC’s Focus on Africa not long after Jacobs passed away on September 16 at 84, Kanayo painted a picture of a man who simply didn’t do things halfway. Call time was 9am? Jacobs was there by 8:30. Lines to learn? He already knew them, cold.
“You wouldn’t tell an Olu Jacobs that call time is 9 am and he is not there by 8:30,” Kanayo said. “Such people were like demigods; difficult to forget their lines.”
Here’s the part that says the most about him, though. Jacobs wasn’t just disciplined for himself, he expected it from everyone around him, especially the younger actors trying to make a name on set with him.
“God save you if you are on set with Mr Olu Jacobs and you’re not proving yourself to be an actor,” Kanayo explained. “He will, in a very simple way, tell you how you can be better.”
No shouting, no drama. Just a quiet standard that either pushed you to grow or exposed you if you weren’t ready. That’s the kind of presence people don’t forget.
Kanayo also shared a memory that felt almost symbolic. They once worked together on a Lancelot Imasuen film shot in Benin, where Jacobs played a king and Kanayo played his prince. If you think about it, that’s basically how the industry saw them in real life too, Jacobs as the elder statesman, and the younger stars learning at his feet.
Looking back now, Kanayo says he wishes Jacobs had more time. But there’s a kind of peace in how he put it: “He has played his part, and it’s time the Lord called him home.”
For those who don’t know the full story, Jacobs was born in July 1942 and trained at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before building a career that spanned British theatre, international film, and decades of unforgettable Nollywood roles. He and his wife, actress Joke Silva, co-founded the Lufodo Group together, and his contributions earned him a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Africa International Film Festival.
Silva had shared back in 2021 that Jacobs was living with Lewy body dementia. He leaves behind his wife and their children, along with a legacy that clearly shaped everyone who worked beside him.
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