75 ROYAL SALUTES TO EBUBEDIKE 1 OF AFRICA
Bukola Lasisi
Africa’s most revered and gifted actor, a man voluble and eloquent, Chief Pete Edochie: Ebubedike 1 of Africa is undoubtedly a force to reckon with as far as the Nigerian entertainment industry is concerned.
Best known for playing the role of a father, godfather or king, Edochie possesses a physique and voice that radiate authority and command respect. He is a seasoned broadcaster and administrator with an incredible command of the English language and the Igbo language as well.
His journey into stardom started with his role as Okonkwo, the principal character in Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe’s all-time classic. A role that made him the most recognized face in many Nigerian homes, African television and has mostly defined his contribution to Nollywood. This particular role earned him the name, Ebube Dike. In Igbo, the literal meaning of Ebubedike is the aura of a warrior. This title is also closely associated with ideals of chivalry and nobility. Pete passionately loves Ebubedike, a label that is intimately connected with him everywhere. So, in words and action, Edochie consciously speaks and acts this warrior-like role and carriage everywhere essentially for effect and identity.
Pete Edochie is from the Igbo ethnic group. The super star actor is an indigene of Nteje in Oyi Local Government Anambra State, Nigeria. He was born on March 7, 1947 in Enugu State, Nigeria, and was raised in Zaria, Kaduna State. Pete began his primary education at St. Patrick’s and St. James Primary School, Zaria. He later proceeded to St. John’s College for secondary education.
Following the completion of his formal education, the multiple award-winning star worked with his father at the Nigerian Railway Corporation. He later returned to his studies to pursue a course in Journalism and Television at the School of Journalism and Television in England.
A role interpreter to the core, Pete Edochie is widely regarded as a cultural icon because of how well he interprets movie roles that connect us better to our African heritage.
He began his career at 20 when he got into the broadcasting corporation. He started at ENBC (now known as Anambra Broadcasting C0mmission when Anambra and Imo states were created) as a junior programme assistant and rose to the position of director where he acted in different directorial capacities. However, he left the radio station and joined Nollywood because the government decided to politicize the affairs of the radio station. His exit from radio found him fame in the world of entertainment.
Pete Edochie started acting after leaving the broadcasting world; he came into limelight in the 1980s when he got featured in Things Fall Apart and this got him many international and local awards even before he became a full member of Nollywood. The popular NTA adaptation of Chinua Achebe made him a star, he acted the role of Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart and his performance was exceptional.
Acting wasn’t a problem for Pete Edochie as he has been used to the crowd as his first time on stage was when he was about 15 years old, he acted in school dramas alongside other students. This helped him a lot in his professional career.
After Pete’s exceptional performance in Things Fall Apart, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) came to Nigeria to interview him and this opened the global entertainment space for him. He started getting different recognitions and this made him the first choice of all movie producers.
Pete Edochie is a symbol of talent and dedication. He is a staunch catholic, who maintains an excellent career performance and also a happy family life, one of the actors to balance these two. The talented actor is a man with great sensitivity, who cherishes his family, embraces spirituality, passionate about his work and is grateful for his life. Pete has a large family, his wife and children are often there for him, in good and bad moments. They are always very supportive of his choices. With a lovely wife, Josephine, whom he married at 22, 6 grown up children, and cute grandchildren, Pete is living the dream.
However, his career has not been totally crisis-free. In 2005, together with several other actors, he was placed on one year ban by the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria. The actors were accused of collecting huge fees from producers due to their A-list celebrity status. The ban placed on these actors was seen as doom in the Nigerian film business, but currently, the actors are back and filming. The other Nollywood stars affected are: Genevieve Nnaji, Nkem Owoh, Ramsey Noah, Stella Damasus Aboderin, Richard Mofe Damijo and Omotola Jalade Ekeinde.
Also, in August 2009, Edochie was kidnapped but later released unscathed by his abductors. Again, in 2013, a 24-year-old Kenyan man, Ephy Saint alleged that he is Edochie’s lovechild as told to him by his (Saint’s) mother. Pete dismissed the rumour, stating categorically that not only that he has never been to Kenya, but he is not a wayward person.
The great actor of Nollywood is convivial, blunt and funny. He is fond of dishing out hilarious yet wise African proverbs while he acts. He is really very good with them, both on set and in real life setting.
Pete Edochie has starred in over 100 films in his career such as: Rituals- 1998, Oracle-1998,Full Moon- 1998, Narrow Escape- 1999, Lost Kingdom- 1999, Chain Reaction- 1999, Oduduwa- 2000, Set-Up- 2000, Zoza- 2006, Holy Ghost Fire- 2001, Light and Darkness- 2001, My Love- 2002, Line-2002, Egg of Life- 2003, Above Death: In God We Trust- 2003, Billionaires Club- 2003, Love And Politics- 2003, Super Love- 2003, St. Michael- 2004, Dog Meeting- 2004, My Desire- 2004, Private Affairs- 2004, No More War- 2005, The Tyrant-2005, Price of Ignorance- 2005, Return of the Princess- 2005, Speak the Word- 2006, Simple Baby- 2006, Broken Curse- 2006, Divided Secret- 2006, Fair Game- 2006, Try & See- 2007, Evil Agenda- 2007, My Beloved Soon- 2007, Sunny My Sun- 2007, Greatest Harvest- 2007, Tears of Sacrifice- 2007, Tiger King- 2008, Test Your Heart- 2008, Naked Wrestler- 2008, The Superstar- 2008, Idemili- 2014, Mummy Why- 2016, Lion Heart- 2018, Trials of Ma’Pe-2018, Night bus to Lagos- 2019, Foreigners God-2019, among others.
Beyond his contributions and appearances in hundreds of movies and documentaries, Edochie is leaving behind, a different kind of legacy that will outlive him. Yul Edochie, the last of his 5 sons, is not only the second most recognizable face in the family, he is also the most popular member of the Edochie family after Pete, his father and the patriarch. Yul, an excellent actor who is walking in his father’s footsteps in the movie industry has also carved a niche for himself. Linc Edochie on the other hand, is another son of the veteran in the entertainment industry. But unlike Yul, a well-known face in Nollywood, Linc is working behind the scenes as a producer. There is also Rita Edochie, an actress. Rita is the wife of Pete’s younger brother who is also a broadcaster. No doubt, Pete has inspired all of them.
With several awards and accolades to his name, his journey to success is one that has seen him contribute enormously to the growth of Nigeria’s film industry. In September 2017, he endorsed Wikimedia Movement in Nigeria by his appearance in a video to help create and increase awareness and the use of Wikipedia among the older generation. He has received recognition both locally and internationally. For instance, he was inducted into the hall of fame in 2003 shortly before he was honored as a Member of the Order of the Niger by former president Olusegun Obasanjo. The Africa Film Academy has also honored him with an Industry Merit Award by Africa Magic and Lifetime Achievement.
His other awards include;
- Movie Personality of the Year, City People Magazine, 1999
- Best Actor in Africa, Censors’ Board, 2001
- Best Actor in Nigeria, Censors’ Board, 2003
- Member of the Order of the Niger, Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, 2003
- Special Recognition Award, Best of Nollywood (BON)
- Lifetime Achievement Award, Africa Movie Academy Awards, 2013
- Industry Merit Award, Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, 2014
- Life Impact Awards, Times Heroes Awards, 2017
The Thespian turned 75 on Monday, 7th, March. He is grateful to God for getting him this far with all his “thinking faculty still intact”.
Happy birthday Chief Pete Edochie Ebubedike 1 of Africa
Picture credits- Internet
