“I am senior to Pete Edochie in Nollywood” – Kanayo O Kanayo
Kanayo O. Kanayo, the seasoned Nollywood actor, recently revealed that he had a presence in Nollywood prior to his colleague, Pete Edochie.
In a recent interview with Afia TV, the esteemed figure in the Nigerian film industry, Kanayo O. Kanayo, created a buzz on social media by firmly asserting his seniority over the well-respected Pete Edochie.
While delving into historical records, the 61-year-old actor steadfastly maintained that the pioneering works of Kenneth Nnebue in the 1990s could not be disputed. He underscored Nnebue’s pivotal role as the director behind the first professionally produced home videos in 1992.
Elaborating further, Kanayo O. Kanayo emphasized that he and fellow actors who appeared in the 1992–1993 Nigerian drama-thriller film “Living in Bondage” were among the initial wave of true professionals to enter Nollywood.
In contrast, Kanayo argued that the renowned 1971 Nigerian film “Things Fall Apart,” in which the esteemed Pete Edochie starred, was a cinematic project rather than a home video production.
The distinguished actor declared his readiness to challenge any assertions suggesting that Pete Edochie preceded him in founding Nollywood, even if such claims were made by his colleagues.
Pete may have started his career in film before him, but Edochie joined Nollywood formally four years after he did, according to Kanayo, emphasizing that this distinction is not based on biological age.
He insisted that he has an advantage over Pete Edochie in the world of Nollywood.
