I am a senior to Pete Edochie in Nollywood – Kanayo O Kanayo clears the air

Kanayo O Kanayo, a veteran character in Nigerian movie industry, has made social media abuzz with his brazen claims of seniority over valued colleague, Pete Edochie.

In a recent interview with Afia TV, Kanayo O Kanayo opened up his arguments with a thunderous remark that individuals of his stature, including Pete Edochie and others, must not be removed from the annals of Nollywood history.

Delving into the archives, the 61-year-old thespian firmly declared that the breakthrough accomplishments of legendary filmmaker Kenneth Nnebue in the 1990s cannot be overstated. He stressed Nnebue’s significant role as the first filmmaker to professionally produce home videos in 1992.

Expanding on his point, Kanayo stated that he and other actors who appeared in the 1992/93 Nigerian two-part drama thriller film, “Living in Bondage,” were among the pioneers who entered Nollywood as actual professionals before anyone else.

Kanayo was adamant that the famed 1971 Nigerian film “Things Fall Apart,” starring the esteemed Pete Edochie, was a theatrical production and not a home video effort.

The legendary actor stated that if anyone, including his colleagues, claims that Pete Edochie founded Nollywood before him, he is willing to refute such a claim.

Kanayo stated that while Pete began his career in movies before him, Edochie entered Nollywood four years later, underlining that the gap is not based on biological age.

He asserted that he is senior to Pete Edochie in the world of Nollywood.