Pete Edochie is trending because veteran, Yemi Solade emphatically said Nollywood Icon, Pete Edochie is his junior in the industry. — False..
And, Yorubas started filmmaking in Nigeria. — Plausible.
In the trending video which is about a week old, Yemi said Yorubas were poor at documentation and media organization, that’s why the Igbos were able to distort the narrative and claim that they were the first to go into filmmaking.
He added that, Ade Ajiboye was the first Nigerian to record a home video. True, Soso Meji (1988).
Which started when, Muyideen Alade Aromire decided to experiment by recording stage plays, put it on tapes and display at bookshops. (Around the 70’s) Ade Ajiboye and the likes of Ade Folayan and co, built on that idea.
Adding that, Living In Bondange wasn’t the first Nigerian home video, neither was it the turning point for nollywood. Only that, his people were not interested in the media paparazzi, just having fun with what they did.
Concluding, he started acting in 1977 when he was 17. And he’s been acting for 48yrs. So, he’s Pete Edochie’s senior., although he’s older. And it’s only in Yoruba you’d find people who have been acting for more than 60yrs.
Igbos have argued in contrast, citing Day Break In Udi, 1949 and Palaver 1926.
Day break in Udi was shot in Enugu, a British produed Igbo documentary, but.. with Igbo dedicated actors. Arguably, igbos have been acting since 1900 – 30’s (colonial influenced dramas).
From 40’s to 60’s modern playwrights and stage plays, facilitated by many Igbo scholars, e.g. Donatus Nwoga, Chinua Achebe etc.
Pete Edochie made his acting debut on stage in 1962 in Kaduna, aged 15. In a Shakespeare’s drama “The Merchant of Venice”. At this time, Yemi Solade was 2yrs old. It was from this, Pete Edochie moved to broadcasting, till he landed the role in Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo.
While Northerners argued that, Palaver 1926 (Romance) was the first film made in Nigeria. In Jos — it was. However, handled by British production with local actors, it was a 1hr48mins picture film, no audio.
In essence, these were the first films made in Nigeria. However, Igbo film didn’t pick up until 80’s. But Igbo theater plays have been underway since 30/40’s. Palaver and DIU, were not home videos.
Herbert Ogunde is recognized as the father of contemporary Yoruba theatre. Stage recordings with celluloid began in his era, 70’s. Ola Balogun was also a major player, he shot movies in Europe as at 1978.
However, the first Yoruba commercial successful home movie was Aromire’s Ekun (1988) shot on VHS, a proper home video. This was three years after Things Fall Apart (1985) which was a TV series, not a home video. And the 1971 version wasn’t a home video either.
So, Kenneth Nnebue the producer of Living in Bondage, used to be a business man dealing with VHS tapes, distribution and importation. He worked closely with the Yoruba film makers who were obviously ahead at the time.
He even produced a Yoruba movie Aje Ni Iya Mi (1989). Before moving to pioneer what we know today as Nollywood.
By pioneering, he introduced commercial success to home videos. LIB(1992) started the era of distributors, marketers etc, expanding nollywood to full commercialization into all zones of Nigeria, not just South West. — With the commercial strategy, SE took over until now.
In summary, Alade Aromire started and laid the foundation for home videos and film making in the South. Kenneth Nnebue took it to the next level. Contrary to Yemi’s claims, it was actually from LIB that Nollywood became Nollywood. But it all started from Alade Aromire.
Home Videos, certainly SW. Film Making? Remains arguable due to limited information. Home videos (shot on VHS not celluloid, for family home view tv, not cinema, tv station, soap or stage). Anything other than this, is not a home video, therefore doesn’t fit into the discussion.
