Veteran Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has asserted that he was featured in Nollywood before his colleague Pete Edochie, sparking controversy on social media.
In a recent interview with Afia TV, Kanayo O. Kanayo confidently claimed seniority in Nollywood and argued that figures like himself, including Pete Edochie, should not be overlooked in the history of the Nigerian film industry.
Kanayo emphasized the significance of Kenneth Nnebue’s pioneering work in the 1990s, particularly his role as the director of professionally produced home videos in 1992. He stated that he and other actors who appeared in the 1992-1993 Nigerian drama-thriller film “Living in Bondage” were among the first true professionals to enter Nollywood.
Kanayo O. Kanayo went on to clarify that while Pete Edochie had a notable career in film and starred in the 1971 Nigerian film “Things Fall Apart,” this was a cinematic project, not a home video production. According to Kanayo, he and others joined Nollywood formally as professionals four years before Pete Edochie.
He emphasized that the distinction was not based on biological age but on their respective entries into Nollywood, and he asserted his advantage over Pete Edochie in the Nollywood industry.
Kanayo O. Kanayo’s statements have sparked discussions and debates about the history and development of Nollywood within the Nigerian film community.
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