- Comic actor Stephen Alajemba has jumped into the ring of the ongoing debate surrounding the founding figure of the vibrant Nigerian film scene, Nollywood.
- Alajemba boldly doubled down on his stance, asserting that Pete Edochie, often touted as a pioneer, doesn’t hold the title of Nollywood’s trailblazer, though Alajemba, in the viral interview, still tips his hat to the legendary actor
Veteran Nollywood actor Stephen Alajemba, also known as Uwaezuoke, recently pulled no punches as he boldly contested the widely held belief that his esteemed colleague Pete Edochie holds the title of “the father of Nollywood.”
Speaking passionately in Igbo dialect during an explosive interview with popular YouTuber Yan Kontent Factory, Alajemba adamantly argued that the late Solomon Eze, famously known as Mike Orihedịmma, deserves the prestigious title instead.
He passionately asserted that Orihedịmma’s pioneering contributions to Igbo cinema laid the foundation for what eventually evolved into the Nollywood we know today.
With fervor in his voice, Alajemba emphasized the pivotal role Orihedịmma played in shaping the landscape of Igbo movies, stressing that his legacy looms large over the industry’s early days.
Despite his staunch stance on the matter, Alajemba didn’t shy away from acknowledging the venerable status of Pete Edochie within the industry. With a nod of respect, he lauded Edochie’s seniority and pointed to the iconic role he played in “Things Fall Apart” as a cornerstone of his enduring legacy.
Alajemba said,
“When you talk about Igbo movie industry, Mike Orihedịmma is the first person to be mentioned. He is the one that trained most of the people you see acting today. He was emulated by Kenneth Nnebue and Pauloo in writing ‘Living In Bondage.’
When it comes to the movie industry, the only person I respect is Pete Edochie. All the people in the movie industry today, anybody that says he is older than me in the industry, should tell us the first movie he did and what year it came out. It is only Pete Edochie that I can say that he is older than me because of Things Fall Apart.”
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