Ace actor Lere Paimo has disputed Pete Edochie’s claim to seniority in Nigeria’s film industry. Paimo said he started acting in 1958, four years before Edochie’s stated beginning in 1962.
The 86-year-old actor made the claim in a recent interview with Kunle Afod. He traced his acting career to the Yoruba travelling-theatre era and legendary filmmaker Hubert Ogunde.
Paimo recalls his acting debut
“I started acting in 1958. I met Hubert Ogunde, who was senior to me and others, and there were big movies produced back then,” he said.
Paimo also argued that the Yoruba theatre tradition started before English-language filmmaking in Nigeria.
“I heard from history that when he (Hubert Ogunde) started in the ’40s, there was nobody before him, and we never heard from history that the English industry, or any movie done in the English language, started before him.
“Since we didn’t hear or read that in any history books or documentation, I believe the Yoruba industry started first.”
His comments come after Edochie, 79, recently spoke about his early acting career.
Edochie’s 1962 claim
Appearing on ‘Curiosity Made Me Ask,’ Edochie said he started acting at 15 in 1962.
The actor cited his performance in William Shakespeare’s ‘The Merchant of Venice’ as evidence of his long career in acting.
Edochie also claimed that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), an American film and television production and distribution company, recognised him and South African actor John Kani as two of Africa’s major actors.
“MGM evaluated filming efforts on the continent of Africa, and they said they are only two people we recognise as actors,” he had said.
“Peter Edochie and John Kani of South Africa… I did Things Fall Apart in 1985. Nollywood came on board in 1992 when they did Living in Bondage.
“I am the only man who did a film, and white people came in and came and interviewed me.”
Paimo speaks on Ogunde
Paimo also addressed claims that other theatre practitioners, including Baba Olumegbon, may have started acting before Ogunde.
“I don’t know if Baba Olumegbon started before Ogunde, but all I know is that Ogunde was the person I knew who started acting first. Although I have been hearing about him for a long time, I can’t say he was senior to Ogunde,” Paimo said.
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