Pete Edochie ‘The Man Of Steel’

Pete Edochie born 7th March, 1947, is a Nigerian actor. Edochie is considered one of Africa’s most talented actors, by both Movie Awards and Movie Magic’s Africa Magic Cable network. Although a seasoned administrator and broadcaster, he came into prominence in the 1980s when he played the lead role of Okonkwo in an NTA adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s all time best selling novel, ‘Things Fall Apart.’ Edochie descends from the Igbo people in Nigeria and is a Catholic.

He got into radio broadcasting in 1967 as a junior programmes assistant after which he was elevated to the level of a Director. He was director of programmes, but doubling sometimes as Deputy Managing Director and occasionally acting as Managing Director.

Edochie quit ABS because the government decided to politise the affairs of their FM station, thereby resulting in the entire management being asked to move out, including him. He was to be the immediate successor to the MD but had to leave and enrol into the movie industry. Prior to that, he had featured in ‘Things Fall Apart’ and had won an International Award. The BBC flew into Nigeria to interview him for his role in ‘Things Fall Apart.’

In 2005 the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria placed Pete Edochie and several other actors, including Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Nkem Owoh, Ramsey Noah, Stella Damasus Aboderin, Chinwe Okeke and Richard Mofe Damijo on a one-year ban from filming after they were said to have been collecting huge fees from producers due to their A-list celebrity status. The ban placed on these actors was seen as doom in the Nigerian film business, but currently, the actors are back in filming.

The veteran actor has two sons that take to his acting traits; Linc and Yul Edochie. He has acted movies like Egg of Life, Above Death: In God We Trust, and so many other movies.

Today, we celebrate a man whose character is worth emulating from. He is epitome of a true African man. We salute you sir.