Veteran Nollywood actor Pete Edochie has become the centre of a fresh debate over Nigeria’s acting legends after his recent appearance on comedian Isbae U’s Curiosity Made Me Ask sparked contrasting reactions from fans and entertainment commentators.
During the interview, Edochie, 79, spoke confidently about his acting career, his command of Shakespeare and his position among other actors.
When asked whether he had a favourite actor, Edochie reportedly replied: “I don’t have a favourite actor because I am bigger than all of them.” He also challenged anyone who believed they were on the same level with him to come forward.
The actor further discussed his early stage career, saying he performed in The Merchant of Venice in 1962 when he was 15 and suggesting that serious actors of his generation needed a strong command of Shakespeare.
Edochie also claimed that MGM, the American film company, had recognised him and South African actor John Kani as two major actors on the African continent. He linked the recognition to his performance in Things Fall Apart, which predates the emergence of Nollywood as it is commonly understood.
The remarks have, however, prompted some Nigerians to revisit the careers of other veterans, particularly Olu Jacobs, whose versatility and international experience have been cited as reasons he deserves equal or greater recognition.
An X user, DON “Tobechukwu” Ade, questioned what he described as disrespect towards Jacobs, arguing that Jacobs had worked in international productions before the modern Nollywood industry emerged.
“Someone who had been acting in Hollywood before your Nollywood even started? How more versatile can one be?” he wrote.
He noted that Jacobs had appeared in Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa productions, as well as Hollywood and other African productions.
The commentator also acknowledged Edochie’s status but argued that the two actors should not necessarily be compared solely on age or popularity, particularly because of what he considers Jacobs’ broader range.
Recent profiles of Nollywood veterans similarly describe Jacobs as an actor capable of moving between traditional rulers, patriarchs and morally complex characters, while noting his theatre and international background.
Another commentator, Big_Tiphe, also questioned Edochie’s account of being the first Nigerian actor to receive recognition from Western audiences.
She argued that Nigeria had a substantial theatrical tradition long before Edochie entered the scene, pointing specifically to Chief Hubert Ogunde, alongside actors and theatre practitioners such as Ade Love and Ojo Ladipo.
Historical records support the broader point that Nigerian theatre had prominent practitioners decades before the emergence of modern Nollywood.
Ogunde staged The Garden of Eden and The Throne of God at Glover Memorial Hall in Lagos in June 1944. The production attracted more than 1,000 spectators and became an important milestone in his theatrical career.
The Hubert Ogunde Museum describes him as a Nigerian actor, playwright, theatre manager and musician who founded the African Music Research Party in 1945, regarded as the first contemporary professional theatrical company in Nigeria.
Ogunde subsequently moved into feature filmmaking and appeared in the 1990 film Mister Johnson, alongside international actors including Pierce Brosnan.
For critics of Edochie’s claim, the history suggests that recognition of Nigerian actors and theatre practitioners by international audiences cannot easily be reduced to one individual.
The strongest criticism came from another social media commentator, Ebisgadget, who described his position as an “unpopular opinion.”
He argued that Edochie’s reputation may have been strengthened by his commanding physical presence, deep voice and frequent portrayal of kings, fathers and authoritative elders.
According to him, however, screen presence should not automatically be equated with versatility.
He questioned whether Edochie had been given enough challenging roles to demonstrate a wider acting range, contrasting his career with international actors such as Samuel L. Jackson, Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington.
The commentator acknowledged Edochie’s iconic status but argued that being iconic and being exceptionally versatile are not necessarily the same thing.
He then placed Olu Jacobs in a different category, praising his ability to change mannerisms, control scenes and disappear into characters.
Despite the criticism, even those questioning Edochie’s comments have acknowledged his enormous contribution to Nigerian acting.
Big_Tiphe described him as a legend whose contribution to the industry could not be taken away, while questioning whether his claim should have been framed without acknowledging the actors and theatre practitioners who came before him.
Edochie’s breakthrough performance as Okonkwo in the NTA adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart remains one of the defining performances of his career. His commanding voice, diction and portrayal of traditional authority figures subsequently became a major part of his public image.
The latest controversy therefore appears to be less about whether Edochie is a great actor and more about where he should rank in Nigeria’s long history of theatre, film and television.
With names such as Hubert Ogunde, Olu Jacobs and several other pioneers forming different chapters of Nigerian performing arts, the debate over who deserves the title of Nigeria’s greatest actor is unlikely to end with Edochie’s latest comments.
For many fans, however, the argument itself is a testament to the enormous cultural impact of the veterans whose careers helped shape Nigerian entertainment.
Comments
Post a Comment