Actor Kola Olaiya slams Pete Edochie over Nollywood seniority claims

Veteran actor Kola Olaiya has harshly criticized fellow Nigerian actor Pete Edochie in a recent interview on Oyinmomo TV, questioning his claim to seniority in the industry. Olaiya accused Edochie of being proud and unwilling to acknowledge the contributions of earlier theatre practitioners. The debate over who qualifies as the pioneer of Nigerian acting has gained new traction following Edochie's comments on a podcast alongside Yoruba theatre veteran Lere Paimo.

Olaiya argued that Edochie's assertion overlooks the significant contributions of theatre pioneers who began their careers in the 1940s, such as Hubert Ogunde, who started acting in 1944 after leaving the police force. Olaiya pointed out that Edochie's prominence in his region should not automatically grant him a claim to seniority over actors from other parts of Nigeria.

He also highlighted the importance of considering theatre's history beyond just the rise of Nollywood, the modern film industry that gained prominence in the early 1990s. The conversation has reignited interest in the contributions of earlier Nigerian theatre practitioners, particularly those involved in Yoruba travelling theatre, who established performance traditions long before the film industry gained widespread recognition.