Jeffrey Nortey’s viral Kanayo O. Kanayo bar gets the legend’s attention, leads to a meet-up

A clever play on words delivered at Jeffrey Nortey’s sold-out show has earned public recognition from the very Nollywood legend who inspired it, Kanayo O. Kanayo.

The moment, which combines Akan wordplay with a reference to one of Nollywood’s most recognisable screen personas, has since travelled beyond the theatre, drawing attention on social media and bringing the two entertainers together.

During the third phase of this year’s edition of ‘3 Faces of Jeffrey Nortey’, the Ghanaian actor and entertainer used his popular ‘Dragon’ character to deliver a bar inspired by Kanayo O. Kanayo and the familiar phrase, “Sacrifices must be made.”

The line was more than a tribute to the veteran actor. It was also Jeffrey’s response to those who had questioned whether he could pull off a successful production at the National Theatre, particularly when the event flyer featured his face without a wider ensemble of stars.

Jeffrey turned the doubt into an opportunity for wordplay, declaring that people should henceforth call him Kanayo O. Kanayo before delivering the punchline, “mi ka na mayɛ oo, mi ka na mayɛ.”

The line draws on the Akan expression “ka na yɛ”, which conveys the idea of talking and doing, or backing words with action. Its phonetic resemblance to Kanayo’s name gave the bar an additional layer of humour, allowing Jeffrey to honour the Nollywood star while making a statement about his own ability to deliver.

The moment also reflected the broader idea behind 3 Faces of Jeffrey Nortey, which brought film, live theatre and his Dragon character together in one production.

From the National Theatre to Kanayo’s Instagram

The bar has since travelled beyond the audience that witnessed it live, after Kanayo O. Kanayo shared a recording of Jeffrey’s performance on Instagram.

In his caption, the Nollywood veteran acknowledged the Akan interpretation of the phrase, describing it as “talk and do." His post revitalised the wordplay, as the original tribute was acknowledged by the man whose name inspired it.

The acknowledgement represents a notable moment for Jeffrey in his creative journey.

A punchline crafted for a live audience in Accra has now been amplified by one of the most recognisable figures in Nigerian cinema, illustrating how social media can extend the lifespan of a live performance, allowing a moment created on stage to reach audiences far beyond the venue.

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