Hey, Shut Up!” – Yemi Solade Fires Shot At Pete Edochie’s Legacy, Claims Yoruba Actors Led The Way Is That True

Veteran Nollywood actor Yemi Solade has asserted his seniority over legendary actor Pete Edochie in the Nigerian film industry.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

During an interview on Father’s Path with Tope, Solade discussed his early years in the Yoruba segment of Nollywood, claiming he began his acting career long before Edochie, despite the latter being older in age.

He explained that the Yoruba film industry had been active long before the rise of what is widely recognized today as Nollywood. However, due to the lack of proper documentation in those early days, the Yoruba pioneers are often overlooked in historical accounts.

“I started acting before Pete Edochie,” Solade said. “Though he’s older than me, I’ve been in the industry for 48 years. I was just 17 in 1977 when I represented Nigeria as the youngest actor.”

Solade went on to reference Yoruba legends such as Ade Ajiboye (Big Abass), Hubert Ogunde, Baba Sala, and Ade Afolayan, all of whom played major roles during the early years of Nigerian film. He described how initial productions were recorded with camcorders, transferred to cassettes, and sold through shops—long before the widely recognized Nollywood boom.

“The problem is, our Yoruba pioneers didn’t document anything,” he said. “That’s why others have come in to claim they started Nollywood. But no—we were here first. We just didn’t promote it as they did. They had the media on their side.”

He emphasized that many veterans from the Yoruba film scene, including Adebayo Salami and Jide Kosoko, are still alive and can testify to these beginnings.

Stay connected via Google News

Follow us for the latest travel updates and guides.