Veteran Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has raised concerns over the Catholic Church’s traditional use of black smoke to signify an unsuccessful papal election.
In a video shared on his social media platform, the actor criticized the symbolism, suggesting it reinforces negative associations with the color black.
“When they fail, it’s black smoke. When they succeed, it’s white smoke,” he said. “This has been ingrained in the minds of the world that black is failure.”
Kanayo made the comments in reference to a recent conclave of cardinals, during which black smoke was seen rising from the Sistine Chapel chimney, indicating that a new pope had not yet been elected.
Calling for change, he suggested a more neutral approach:
“Let blue smoke mean a new pope has not been elected, and let white smoke mean he has. Remove the black. It’s not good for us.”
The actor’s remarks have sparked discussions online about the symbolism and cultural implications of color usage in global religious traditions.