Pete Edochie @ 73: A Master Of His Craft

By Ekene Dike

Pete Edochie is easily reckoned as one of Nigeria’s most prominent and talented practitioners in the movie industry.

He was there before the industry crystallized into its present form as Nollywood and his longevity is because he became a master of his craft.

The acting veteran has featured in multitudes of movies, contributed massively to the growth of the entertainment industry and is an inspirational figure to upcoming actors and actresses.

Edochie actually made his acting debut as a student of St. John’s College, Kaduna in 1962 as a 15 year old.

Edochie, remarkably started his path to fame in a platform where people are heard but not seen. He had actually trained as a journalist and rose through the ranks as a broadcaster until his manifestation with Things Fall Apart.

So impressed was the world with his depiction of Okonkwo, that the BBC flew in a crew to interview him.He came into limelight in the eighties after he played the lead role of Okonkwo in an NTA adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s all-time best-selling novel, Things Fall Apart.

In 2003, he was honored as a Member of the Order of the Niger by President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Albeit, he has won some coveted awards like the Industry Merit Award by Africa Magic and Lifetime Achievement by Africa Film Academy.

However, the movie maestro who hails from Enugu state has also nurtured his son Yul Edochie into a great actor.

Edochie who married at the age of 22 has one daughter and five sons.

The master of the craft at 73 has undoubtedly left a legacy in his craft that has endeared him to millions of fans at home and abroad.

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