Yoruba Actors Started Nollywood – Yemi Solade Declares

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Veteran actor Yemi Solade has triggered widespread reactions in the Nigerian film industry after asserting that he began his acting career before legendary Nollywood icon Pete Edochie.

 Speaking during an appearance on Father’s Path with Tope, Solade shared insights about his early days in the industry and highlighted the deep roots of Yoruba contributions to Nigerian cinema.

According to Solade, his acting journey began as early as 1977 when he represented Nigeria as a teenage performer. He emphasized that although Pete Edochie is older in age, he entered the film industry after him, making Solade a senior in terms of experience and professional longevity.

The actor also shed light on a long-standing misconception surrounding the origins of Nollywood. He argued that the Yoruba segment of the industry, which has produced countless legends and classic films, often gets sidelined in mainstream narratives due to a lack of early documentation. 

Solade noted that the Yoruba creative community was at the forefront of the country’s early film movement, contributing significantly to what would later evolve into today’s Nollywood.

He referenced notable Yoruba pioneers including Ade Ajiboye, who produced Nigeria’s first home video, as well as cultural icons like Hubert Ogunde, Baba Sala, Ade Afolayan, and Dr. Ola Balogun, whose works laid a strong foundation for future generations.

Solade also recalled how the Yoruba film industry initially operated through recorded stage performances sold as cassettes in shops, long before the concept of a structured home video market became popular.

He expressed frustration that these early efforts have not been properly acknowledged, attributing the oversight to poor documentation and self-promotion from the Yoruba side of the industry. He emphasized that the contributions of Yoruba filmmakers are often overshadowed by narratives from other sectors of Nollywood.

Additionally, Solade pointed out that respected actors like Adebayo Salami and Jide Kosoko, who are still active today, were part of those early pioneering efforts and remain living witnesses to the true origins of Nigerian cinema.

While Pete Edochie has yet to respond publicly, the debate stirred by Solade’s comments has sparked intense conversations among fans, stakeholders, and historians, raising important questions about who truly deserves credit for building Nollywood. 

Many believe this discussion could push for a deeper, more inclusive look at the history of the Nigerian film industry.

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