One of Nollywood’s veteran actors, Kanayo O. Kanayo, is asking a vital question many wouldn’t dare – Why is black still used to signify failure?
Earlier today, the centuries-old ritual unfolded once again inside the hallowed halls of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. As tradition dictates, a plume of black smoke rose from the chapel’s chimney, signalling to the waiting crowds and the world that the conclave of cardinals had failed to elect a new pope.
Hours later, white smoke billowed into the Roman sky, the historic announcement that a new pope had finally been chosen.
For many, it was a beautiful tradition, steeped in history. For Kanayo O. Kanayo, it was a troubling reminder.
A tradition under scrutiny
In a video posted to his social media page, Kanayo O. Kanayo didn’t mince words:
“When they fail, it’s black smoke. When they succeed, it’s white smoke… This has been ingrained in the minds of the world that black is failure.”
And he’s not wrong to point out the powerful undercurrent of symbolism.
The Vatican’s smoke signal tradition dates back to at least 1417, during the election of Pope Martin V.
By the 20th century, the method had become more formalised — black smoke (produced by burning wet straw with ballots) signalled no decision; white smoke (dry ballots with added chemicals) meant “Habemus Papam” — We have a pope.
It’s seemingly a simple system, but it’s a deeply coded message, one that, in today’s world, doesn’t sit comfortably anymore.
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Kanayo’s call for change
Watching today’s drama unfold from thousands of miles away, Kanayo O. Kanayo couldn’t help but speak out.
He challenged the Vatican to rethink its messaging:
“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.”
In his view, using “black” to represent failure reinforces a global narrative, one where blackness is subconsciously tied to negativity, loss, and defeat.
It’s a narrative he, like many, believes should be dismantled, especially in spaces that hold such cultural and spiritual weight.
