Veteran Nollywood actor Anayo Modestus Onyekwere, known as Kanayo O. Kanayo, has asserted his seniority over colleague Pete Edochie in the Nigerian movie industry.
In a recent interview, Kanayo O. Kanaya challenged any narrative suggesting otherwise.
He claimed to have appeared in the first professionally produced home video, “Living in Bondage,” in 1992.
Despite Pete Edochie’s earlier involvement in acting, Kanayo O. Kanaya argued that Pete Edochie was primarily associated with cinema rather than home video at that time.
Expressing concern about historical accuracy and sentimentalism in Nollywood history, Kanayo O. Kanayo expressed his hope that he would not be omitted from the industry’s chronicles.
He contested any assertion that Pete Edochie was older than him in Nollywood, stating that he came four years later. He emphasized that it wasn’t a matter of biological age but rather a matter of seniority within the Nollywood industry.
Kanayo O. Kanaya concluded by acknowledging the historical significance of Nigerian cinema, dating back to pioneers like Baba Hubert Ogunde in the 1940s and 1950s, emphasizing the importance of accurate historical records.
“I hope I won’t be written out of the history when it’s told or the story when it’s told of Nollywood.
“You can’t take it away that Kenneth Nnebue made the first professionally produced home video. You can’t take it away, 1992. You can’t take it away from those who took part in that “Living in Bondage.
“Just like you can’t take it away from the fact that “Things Fall Apart” Pete Edochie took part in was not home video. It was cinema.
“So if you write a story now and say Pete Edochie is older than me in Nollywood, I’ll contest it because he came four years after. It isn’t a matter of biological age.
“So, in Nollywood, I’m his senior, but if, you recall, cinema; of course. Then you start going to Baba Hubert Ogunde in the 1940s or 1950s. This is history. History has no romanticism,” he concluded.
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@afiatvofficial ‘I am older than Pete Edochie ‘Ebubedike’ in Nollywood’ @Kanayo.o kanayo reveals as he shares insight on history of Nollywood. #nollywood #oldnollywood #historyofnollywood #nollywoodonline #nollywoodmovies #nollywoodactor #kanayookanayo #nnanyisacrifice #peteedochie #ebubedike ♬ original sound – AfiaTvOfficial