Veteran Yoruba actor Lere Paimo has refuted Pete Edochie’s claims regarding his acting longevity, asserting that his own career began four years before the Things Fall Apart star’s.
The debate over seniority erupted after Edochie challenged fellow veteran actors to step forward and verify any claims of having started earlier than him.
The 86-year-old Paimo set the record straight during a YouTube interview with actor Kunle Afod, revealing that his career kicked off back in 1958.
Edochie recently pointed to his 1962 performance in William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice as proof of his 62-year acting journey.
Paimo insisted that he was already active on stage long before Edochie ever stepped into the spotlight.
“I started acting in 1958. I met Hubert Ogunde, who was senior to me and others, and there were big movies produced back then,” he said.
Highlighting the rich history of the Yoruba traveling-theatre tradition, Paimo argued that indigenous Nigerian theater predates English-language productions.
“I heard from history that when he (Hubert Ogunde) started in the ’40s, 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,” he stated.
He further emphasized the legacy of early practitioners, saying, “Since we didn’t hear or read that in any history books or documentation, I believe the Yoruba industry started first.”
Addressing other theater pioneers like Baba Olumegbon, Paimo noted, “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.”
After honing his craft with the Oyin Adejobi and Duro Ladipo theater groups, Paimo cemented his legacy with his iconic portrayal of Soun Ogunola in Ogbori Elemosho.
