Veteran Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has openly criticized the Catholic Church for what he considers an offensive and outdated tradition involving the use of “black smoke” during the election of a new pope.
Following the death of Pope Francis in April 2025, the Catholic conclave gathered as usual to elect a new leader, ultimately choosing Pope Leo.
However, as is customary, black smoke was emitted from the Sistine Chapel chimney whenever the cardinals failed to reach a consensus.
This ancient ritual, meant to communicate the election’s progress, did not sit well with Kanayo, who viewed it as a troubling symbol that reinforces negative connotations associated with the color black.
In a video posted on Instagram on May 8, 2025, Kanayo expressed his disapproval of the tradition, arguing that the use of black smoke to signify an unsuccessful vote was both harmful and insensitive.
“So yesterday, there was black smoke from the chimney, meaning that they failed to elect a new pope. So when they fail to elect a new pope, they use black smoke, and when they succeed, they use white. What is this trying to say?” he questioned, his tone reflecting a mix of frustration and disappointment.
For Kanayo, the symbolic link between the color black and failure perpetuates a stereotype that is damaging to black people globally.
The outspoken actor did not hold back as he challenged the Catholic Church to reconsider the symbolism behind the black and white smoke ritual.
“In the minds of the world, they are saying that black means failure, and I think this is bad. The Catholic Church must rise up to this immediately,” he declared.
To Kanayo, the problem goes beyond religious tradition; it is about confronting a narrative that has long associated darkness with negativity while celebrating whiteness as a symbol of success and purity. For him, this is not just a matter of faith but a matter of social justice.
Kanayo went further to suggest a practical solution, urging the Church to replace the black smoke with another color. “We have been vilified enough as black people. So, are they calling people the black sheep? The Catholic community should use blue—let blue mean that a new pope has not been elected, and let white smoke mean that he has been elected. Remove the black, it’s not good for us,” he insisted.
His choice of blue as an alternative reflected his desire for a neutral and less stigmatizing color. Kanayo’s plea was not just a critique but a call for change within one of the world’s oldest religious institutions.
The veteran actor’s remarks have sparked a wave of reactions on social media, with some users supporting his stance, while others defended the tradition as a harmless practice rooted in history.
For his supporters, Kanayo’s criticism is a necessary wake-up call for the Catholic Church to reflect on how its symbols are perceived in a modern, multicultural world.
Yet for his critics, the smoke tradition is merely a historical practice without any racial intent.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear—Kanayo O. Kanayo has once again used his voice to challenge a powerful institution, pushing for a conversation about the impact of symbols in a world that is becoming increasingly aware of cultural sensitivity.
