Veteran Actor Pete Edochie Covers The Will Downtown’s Latest Issue to commemorate Father’s Day

Pete Edochie is well-known for his fatherly roles in movies as well as his strong belief in Culture and Tradition.

He has spawned numerous controversies on social media owing to his opinions on society and family dynamics.

To commemorate Father’s Day, Onah Nwachukwu, editor of The Will Downtown, speaks with the legendary actor about his life, career in broadcasting, and move into Nollywood.

While many consider Pete to be the “Father of Nollywood,” he began his career in broadcasting and journalism.

Speaking about this element of his life, the actor discussed the differences between journalism at the time and journalism today.

Because of the lack of ideology and in-depth investigation by its practitioners, he branded today’s media as “shallow.”

“The journalists we have today have access to all the information they require, but they never attempt to access it, which is why it is very painful. I am not running them down…When I listen, I want to learn…They should research more so that they are some form of fountain of knowledge.”

Pete Edochie has an unconventional understanding of culture, which he discussed in this interview.

While admitting that they were inspired by white men’s society during their “heyday,” the experienced actor believes that we should not entirely adhere to their culture.

According to him, culture is diverse and dynamic, and we owe it to ourselves to “pick from sources and strengthen your own culture.”

Then you throw away the aspect you feel doesn’t compliment or think it is anachronistic.

Now, in our culture, women do not lead us. Therefore, you have no business stepping down on one knee and offering a woman a ring…”

He went on to say that because we prefer to follow the “white man,” who believes a man and his wife are equals, the new generation husband would ask his wife for some water when they get home, and she would remind him that they both just walked in.

That, in his judgment, should not be the case.

“I don’t quarrel with young men who are experimenting with western culture like we did,” he remarked in response to Gen Z’s refusal to comply to his traditional and patriarchal ideals.

But when you consciously debase manhood by wearing earrings. First of all, you ask yourself what you want to achieve by that? We grew up knowing that earrings were meant for women.”

“What do they stand for?” he continued, “each time people come to see me from outside the country, I bring out palm wine.

If a white man comes to your house and you give him palm wine, he has tasted something that is indigenous to you.

Going to give him champagne and all that shows that you have nothing to be proud of.”

Pete described parenting by recounting his youth and how his father instilled discipline and moral principles in him and his brothers, which encouraged him to raise his children in the same manner.

“I left no stone unturned when I was raising these kids,” he claimed.

When asked about his thoughts on polygamy, he stated, “If you can cope with it, it’s your business.”

Despite his prominent name, Pete Edochie, the veteran actor was born Peter Edochie.

He opted to drop the ‘R’ to answer Pete after being influenced by a foreign broadcaster.