Actor Yemi Solade has stirred controversy online after asserting that he began his acting career before Nollywood icon Pete Edochie.
QEDng earlier reported that Yemi made the statement behind the scenes of The Father’s Path with Temitope podcast, where he addressed what he described as misinformation about the origins of Nigeria’s booming film industry.
“The first man that shot home video in this country, his name is Ade Ajiboye (Big Abass); he’s alive,” the actor said.
He explained that the idea of recording performances for home viewing began as an experiment in the Yoruba theatre scene. “We have been doing it… there was celluloid, we did that,” he said.
Solade also named some early pioneers of Yoruba cinema including Hubert Ogunde, Baba Sala, Ade Love and Ola Balogun.
“Some of them have gone,” he added.
According to him, Yoruba filmmakers don’t often get the credit they deserve because of a lack of proper documentation. “It all started like that… my people in the Yoruba setting didn’t document anything,” he said.
“That’s why some people in the film industry will come out to boast saying they started.”
“They didn’t start anything. Living in Bondage was not the first movie. But because they romanced the media while my people were doing the act. Agreed, most of them weren’t schooled and they didn’t have access to media,” he added.
Speaking about his own career, the actor said, “I started acting before Pete Edochie, but he’s older than me. I was 17 in 1977 when I represented Nigeria at Festac 77 as the youngest actor. I’ve done 48 years and I’m still standing.”
Although Living in Bondage, released in 1992 and produced by Kenneth Nnebue, is widely regarded as the film that started Nollywood, earlier records show that Yoruba home videos like Soso Meji by Ade Ajiboye (1988) and Ekun by Alade Aromire (1989) predated it.
Yemi Solade’s comments have drawn widespread reactions online. Some users applauded his historical accuracy, while others accused him of being disrespectful to Pete Edochie.
Reacting on Instagram, one user wrote, “Pete Edochie was already a superstar when many of us were kids. Whether it was radio, stage or TV, he made an impact. This statement by Yemi Solade is unnecessary.”
Another user added, “This is not how you compare legacies. Even if you came before him, the impact is what matters. Pete Edochie is a legend.”
A Twitter user questioned the timeline: “Things Fall Apart was in 1971, how did he start acting before Pete Edochie tho.”
Another offered a more balanced view: “Everybody grace different. You can carry yourself up without talking someone down… Most important thing is both men… are recognised in the industry.”
Others defended Solade’s confidence. One commenter wrote, “Yemi Solade is solid. Super educated and talented… Love the way he owns his age with pride.”
As of the time of this report, Pete Edochie has not responded to Yemi Solade’s remarks.
