Who Owns Nollywood? See What Pete Edochie Says

Nollywood legend, Pete Edochie, has reacted to a statement credited to award-winning producer, Wale Adenuga of 'Super Story' fame that Igbos have hijacked the film industry, saying "comments are free but facts are sacred".

In the concluding part of this interview with VANGUARD, the bearded actor, who is more famous for his role as Okonkwo in the TV adaptation of late Chinua Achebe's classic, 'Things Fall Apart', said Nollywood is actually owned by Igbos and so couldn't have been 'hijacked' as claimed.

"People are free to say whatever they like, but a fact is a fact. Who make up Nollywood? The Igbos. Who started Nollywood? The Igbos. What are the films you remember most in Nollywood; 'Living in Bondage', which was produced by an Igbo man; 'Rituals', 'Igodo', 'Ebuka', among others. They were all produced by Igbo filmmakers. I featured in about 90 percent of these films", Mr. Edochie pointed out.

While acknowledging that "Yorubas have always done productions in Yoruba", the veteran actor said "the circulation of their films is limited".

According to him, "If you travel out of the shores of this country today, people would want to talk to you about the Igbo culture. They would talk about the huge bearded man with a red cap and a walking stick" in apparent reference to himself.

In self-adulation, Mr. Edochie added that "There are those who spend all their time trying to run other people down. But like I said, a fact is a fact. Whatever you say about me today, such comments don't bother me. I am the only actor that BBC has flown into Nigeria to interview, and that was because of my infectious professionalism".