Veteran Nigerian actor Pete Edochie has highlighted the remarkable longevity of his career, noting that his journey in acting began decades before the Nigerian film industry became widely known as Nollywood.
Reflecting on his early beginnings, Edochie revealed that he started acting in 1962, long before the term “Nollywood” emerged in the early 1990s.
“I started acting before Nollywood was created in 1992. I first appeared in The Merchant of Venice in 1962 at the age of 15,” Edochie said.
The revelation offers a glimpse into the extensive career of one of Nigeria’s most respected screen and stage actors.
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Beginning his acting journey as a teenager, Edochie went on to build a reputation for powerful performances, commanding screen presence and memorable portrayals of traditional African characters.
Beyond his early stage experience, the veteran actor also pointed to the international attention his work has attracted over the years.
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“I’m the only person who has done a film that made white people fly in to Nigeria just to interview me,” he stated.
The comment underscores the impact Edochie believes his work has had beyond Nigeria, particularly at a time when African cinema was gaining increasing international interest.
