Nigerian Actor, Chief Pete Edochie, MON born on the 7th March 1947, celebrates his 71st birthday today.
Edochie is considered one of Africa’s most talented actors, being honoured with an Industry Merit Award by Africa Magic and Lifetime Achievement by Africa Film Academy.
Pete Edochie is also the father of actor Yul and Linc Edochie, the former who has turned a politician as he contested in last year’s Anambra Gubernatorial polls.
Edochie was first in radio broadcasting in 1967 at the age of 20 as a junior programmes assistant. He soon moved up to the level of a Director. He was director of programmes, but doubling sometimes as Deputy Managing Director and occasionally acting as Managing Director. He eventually was asked to leave ABS when the government decided to politicize the affairs of their FM station, thereby resulting in the entire management being asked to move out, including him. initially, it was planned that he would be the immediate successor to the MD but due to these developments, he was forced to leave and enroll in the movie industry.
Although a seasoned administrator and broadcaster, A Catholic Christian, 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.
In 2003, he was honoured as a Member of the Order of the Niger by President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Chief Pete Edochie still draws the attention of numerous fans, while he has been credited for enriching the Nigerian cinematography with his enormous talent.
Happy Birthday to a true living Legend.
