A Nigerian man has stirred controversy and laughter across social media after posting a sarcastic remark comparing the elaborate rituals at the Pope’s burial to scenes from Nollywood’s famous occult-themed movies starring Kanayo O. Kanayo.
The viral post reads:
“I’m trying hard to differentiate between the Pope’s burial and the burial of Kanayo O Kanayo in all those occultic Nollywood movies. Catholics, you have a lot of explanation to do.”
While many online took the statement as harmless banter typical of Nigerian social media humor, others — particularly members of the Catholic community — have described it as disrespectful and insensitive, calling on the poster to retract or clarify his statement.
“You don’t joke about sacred traditions like that. Comparing a solemn religious ritual to a fictional occult movie is out of line,” one Catholic user responded.
On the flip side, some users found the comparison humorous, pointing to Nigeria’s long history of using satire to reflect on cultural spectacles — even solemn ones.
“If you grew up watching Kanayo O. Kanayo, you’d understand the joke. Nigerians will always find the comic side, no matter how serious the occasion is,” another user wrote.
The grandeur of Catholic ceremonies — particularly papal burials — involves intricate rites, ancient traditions, and rich symbolism that may appear theatrical to the uninitiated. Paired with Nigeria’s prolific Nollywood portrayals of secret societies and ritual scenes — often with Kanayo O. Kanayo as the iconic occultist — the post plays on familiar visuals that resonate with Nigerian audiences.
Kanayo himself has previously acknowledged the internet’s obsession with his “ritual roles,” often responding with good humor and embracing the meme culture that surrounds his on-screen legacy.
As of now, neither the Catholic Church in Nigeria nor Kanayo O. Kanayo has commented on the trending post. However, the situation has once again highlighted the thin line between humor and offense in a country where religion and entertainment often collide in colorful, dramatic ways.
In the meantime, the internet continues to do what it does best: debate, laugh, and turn it all into a meme.
