Pete Edochie

Chief Pete Uwadiegwu Ogugua Edochie MON
Pete Edochie
Born	Pete Edochie (1947-03-07) March 7, 1947 (age 77) Zaria
Nationality	Nigerian
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1980-till date
Spouse	Josephine Edochie
Children	Linc Edochie Yul Edochie
Honours	AMVCA Industry Merit Award

Chief Pete Edochie, MON // ^ⓘ (born March 7, 1947) [1][2] is a veteran Nigerian actor.[3] Edochie is considered one of Nigeria’s most talented actors, being honored with an Industry Merit Award by Africa Magic and Lifetime Achievement by Africa Film Academy[4] Once an administrator and broadcaster,[5] he came into prominence in the 1980s, when he played the lead role of 'Okonkwo' in a Nigerian Television Authority adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s all-time best-selling novel, Things Fall Apart. Edochie descends from the Igbo people of Nigeria and is a Catholic.[6] In 2003, he was honored as a Member of the Order of the Niger by President Olusegun Obasanjo.[7][8]

Early life and education

Edochie was born in Zaria, Kaduna State on March 7, 1947.[9]

He studied at St. Patrick's and St. James Primary School, Zaria, before attending St. John's College for his secondary education.[10] He also schooled at the School of Journalism and Television in England.

Career

Edochie appearing in a commercial for Wikipedia

Edochie got into radio broadcasting in 1967 at the age of 20[11] as a junior programs assistant after which he was elevated to the level of a director. He was director of programs but doubling sometimes as Deputy Managing Director and occasionally acting as Managing Director. He quit Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) because the government decided to politicize 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 enroll 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.[1]

In 2005, the Actors Guild of Nigeria placed Edochie and several other actors, including Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Nkem Owoh, Ramsey Nouah, Stella Damasus Aboderin, 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 perceived A-list celebrity status.[12]

Personal life

He is married to Josephine Edochie.[13] They have six children.^[citation needed]

In 2009, Edochie was kidnapped and later released by his captors, unharmed.[14][15]

In September 2017, Edochie endorsed the Wikimedia movement in Nigeria by appearing in a video to increase awareness and use of Wikipedia among the older generations.[16][17]

Awards

Pete Edochie honoured with the African Film Legend award at the African Film Festival (TAFF) in 2020.[18]

Filmography

• Heavy Battle (2008) as Chief
• Test Your Heart (2008)
• Greatest Harvest (2007) as Asika
• Secret Pain (2007) as Douglas
• Fair Game (2006) as Tamuno Jacobs
• Holy Cross (2006)
• Lacrima (2006)
• Living with Death (2006) as Mr. Harrison
• Passage of Kings (2006) as Akatakpo
• Simple Baby (2006) as Nze Jacob
• Zoza (2006) as King
• Azima (2005)
• Baby Girl (2005)
• End of Money (2005) as Okagbue
• Living in Tears (2005)
• Never End (2005) as Igwe Omekaokwulu
• No More War (2005)
• Ola... the Morning Sun (2005)
• Price of Ignorance (2005)
• The Price of Love: Life Is Beautiful (2005)
• Sacred Tradition (2005) as Igwe Ebube
• The Tyrant (2005)
• Across the Niger (2004)
• Coronation (2004)
• Dogs Meeting (2004) as Anacho
• Dons in Abuja (2004)
• The Heart of Man (2004)
• King of the Jungle (2004)
• Love from Above (2004)
• My Desire (2004)
• Negative Influence (2004)
• The Staff of Odo (2004)
• St. Michael (2004)
• Above Death: In God We Trust (1999)
• Arrows (2003)
• Billionaires Club (2003) as Billion
• Egg of Life (2003) as Igwe
• Honey (2003)
• Love & Politics (2003)
• Miserable Wealth (2003)
• The Omega (2003)
• Onunaeyi: Seeds of Bondage (2003)
• Rejected Son (2003)
• Selfish Desire (2003)
• Super Love (2003) as Okagbue
• Tears in the Sun (2003)
• Tunnel of Love (2003)
• When God Says Yes (2003) as Okeke
• Battle Line (2002)
• My Love (2002)
• Tears & Sorrows (2002) as Chief Okoye
• Greedy Genius (2001)
• Holy Ghost Fire (2001)
• Terrible Sin (2001)
• Light & Darkness (2001)
• Oduduwa (2000)
• Set-Up (2000)
• Chain Reaction (1999)
• Lost Kingdom (1999)
• Narrow Escape (1999) as Odumodu
• Living in Darkness (1999)
• Rituals (1997)
• Nightmare (1997)
• Things Fall Apart (1987), TV series
• Last Ofalla (2002)
• Lion throne
• Lion of Africa[19]
• Igodo (1999)
• Evil men
• Monkey chop banana
• Idemili (2014) as Igwe
• 50 days with Christ
• Mummy Why (2016) as Elizabeth's Father
• John and John (2017)
• Trials of Ma'pe' (2018) as Uncle Wilson
• "Ebubedike (2021) as Ebubedike
• The Egg
• Unroyal (2020) as King Okrika
• " Foreigner's God (2022) as Storyteller
• Lionheart (2018) as Chief Ernest Obiagu
• Mummy Why (2016) as Elizabeth's Father
• King Mabutu (2023) as Kasanga
• The Rising Sun (2023)
• Ifediche (2023)

References

1. Ololade, Olatunji (20 June 2009). "Life, pain and Pete". The Nation. Lagos, Nigeria: Vintage Press Limited. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
2. "Biography". Pete Edochie, Official Website. Archived from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
3. "Your performance brought spotlight to Nigeria, Africa, Buhari greets Pete Edochie @75". Punch Newspapers. 2022-03-07. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
4. Njoku, Benjamin (25 November 2011). "Pete Edochie, alive". The Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
5. Umejei, Emeka (21 August 2009). "Pete Edochie - Bearing the Brunt of Captivity". AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
6. Okachie, Leonard (13 June 2010). "Unholy Admiration - Fans Tear Pete Edochie's Dress Inside Church". AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
7. "Pete Edochie at 70: Celebrating Nigeria's movie icon". Premium Times. March 8, 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
8. "I'VE BEEN ACTING SINCE I WAS 15 –PETE EDOCHIE". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
9. Mutuku, Ryan (2020-11-26). "Pete Edochie biography: wife, children, net worth, movies, latest updates". Tuko.co.ke - Kenya news. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
10. "Pete Edochie: Biography, Education, Career, Wife and Children, Net Worth, Achievements and Controversy". 8 September 2022.
11. Jamiu, Adeyinka, "Peter Edochie: Facts You Probably Didn't know about him", YeYePikin Movie Blog, 9 September 2015.
12. "Nigeria: Where Are the Legends?". allAfrica.com. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
13. Osaji, Sharon (2022-10-02). "Pete Edochie, wife celebrate anniversary, May sparks reactions". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
14. "Actor Pete Edochie Kidnapped, Ransom Paid, Now Released – UPDATED". bellanaija. 17 August 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
15. "Pete Edochie kidnapped". Vanguard News. 2009-08-17. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
16. "Veteran actor returns as Okonkwo in new skit "Things Fall Together" [Video]". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
17. "Pete Edochie, Emmauella star in Wikipedia campaign (VIDEOS INCLUDED)". Daily Trust. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
18. benjamin, njoku (2020-06-13). "pete edochie honored with african film legend award at TAFF 2020". Vanguard.
19. "Lion of Africa". LegitNG. Retrieved 11 August 2023.

External links

• Pete Edochie at IMDb
• Interview with Pete Edochie at SunNewsOnline.com
• Pete Edochie official website