Veteran actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has recently asserted that his presence in Nollywood predates that of his colleague, Pete Edochie, adding a layer of controversy to the discussion.
During a recent interview with Afia TV, Kanayo O. Kanayo made a strong case for himself and other actors of his generation, emphasizing that they should not be omitted from Nollywood’s history.
He stood firm in his assertion that the groundbreaking contributions of Kenneth Nnebue in the 1990s cannot be disregarded. Kanayo highlighted Nnebue’s pivotal role as the director of professionally produced home videos in 1992.
Further elaborating, Kanayo argued that he and his fellow actors who appeared in the 1992–1993 Nigerian drama-thriller film “Living in Bondage” were among the pioneers who entered Nollywood as true professionals.
Drawing a distinction, Kanayo pointed out that the renowned 1971 Nigerian film “Things Fall Apart,” in which Pete Edochie starred, was a cinematic project and not a home video production.
Kanayo firmly stated that he is prepared to challenge any claims suggesting that Pete Edochie established Nollywood before him, even if such assertions come from their colleagues. While acknowledging that Pete initiated his film career earlier, Kanayo stressed that Edochie formally joined Nollywood four years after he did. He emphasized that this distinction is not solely based on their biological ages, firmly asserting his seniority in the Nollywood arena.
