Lere Paimo Disputes Pete Edochie’s Seniority Claim In Nollywood Debate

Veteran Yoruba actor Lere Paimo has reacted to the debate over who started Nollywood, insisting that Yoruba theatre predates English-language productions often associated with Igbo actors like Pete Edochie.

Speaking in a YouTube interview with Kunle Afod, the 86-year-old actor said he began acting in 1958. This was four years before Edochie said his career began in 1962, at age 15.

The conversation began after Edochie challenged colleagues to prove that anyone had acted before him, citing his 1962 role in William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. Paimo disagreed with the claim, tracing Nollywood’s true roots to the Yoruba travelling theatre tradition.

“I started acting in 1958. I met Hubert Ogunde, who was senior to me and others, and there were big movies produced back then,” Paimo said. He argued that indigenous Yoruba productions came first, long before English films became popular in the country.

“I heard from history that when Hubert Ogunde started in the 1940s, 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.

“There was nothing like English-speaking movie production then; Ogunde started by producing movies in the Yoruba language, which he used to educate everyone who watched those movies back then. We never heard about English-speaking movies until now, when, with civilisation, we started hearing and seeing that there are English-speaking movies,” he added.

Paimo also addressed claims about other early theatre figures in the country.

“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 stated.

Paimo began his career with the Oyin Adejobi Theatre Group before joining Duro Ladipo’s group, where he played Chief Basa in Obamoro. He later rose to national fame in Yoruba cinema, especially for his famous role as Soun Ogunola in the classic movie Ogbori Elemosho.