Yemi Solade says he began acting before Pete Edochie, sparking debate over Nollywood’s origins.
He defends Yoruba film pioneers and slams poor documentation that sidelines their contributions to cinema.
Veteran Nollywood actor Yemi Solade has stirred conversation in the entertainment industry after stating that he began his acting career before legendary actor Pete Edochie. During a recent interview on Father’s Path with Tope, Solade reflected on his long-standing journey in the Yoruba film sector and highlighted the overlooked contributions of its pioneers.
According to Solade, despite Pete Edochie being older in age, he himself is senior in terms of professional acting experience.
“I’m senior to Pete Edochie. I started acting before him, though he’s older than me. I was 17 in 1977 when I represented Nigeria as the youngest actor, and I’ve done 48 years in the industry and still standing,” he said.
Solade also addressed a common misconception surrounding the roots of Nollywood. He emphasized that the Yoruba film sector has a deep history that has often gone unrecognized due to a lack of documentation.
He recognized Ade Ajiboye, widely known as Big Abass, as the producer of Nigeria’s first home video and also paid tribute to pioneering figures like Hubert Ogunde, Baba Sala, Ade Afolayan, and Dr. Ola Balogun for their foundational roles in shaping the industry.
“We had film, the celluloid and everything… Even when home video was starting, it was just an experiment,” Solade explained, recalling how performances were recorded with camcorders and sold as cassette tapes on store bookshelves.
Expressing disappointment at the marginalization of Yoruba creatives, Solade criticized the lack of historical records, which he believes has allowed others to wrongly claim they founded Nollywood.
“My people in the Yoruba setting didn’t document anything. That’s why others came out to say they started it. Shut up! When people like us are still here, we’ll let you know you didn’t start anything,” he asserted.
He concluded by referencing respected veterans like Adebayo Salami and Jide Kosoko, who he said can also testify to the Yoruba industry’s foundational role in Nigerian cinema.
Watch him speak:
