They are old but not tired and as the wine they grow better by the day, winning awards and setting the pace for the younger generations in the industry.
Pete Edochie, a veteran Nollywood actor clocked 74 on March 7. The former broadcaster and talented actor renowned for his role in the adaptation of the NTA adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart is among the class of septuagenarians still buzzing Nigeria’s movie industry.
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Pete Edochie, famous for his composure and comportment with his characteristic walking aid, has featured in over 80 movies including Igodo and Lion Heart. Edochie demonstrates wisdom and has shown a good understanding of the industry interpreting roles to the admiration of producers and Nigerians. He is a recipient of several awards including a Member of the Order of the Niger conferred on him by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003. He was also honoured by Africa Magic and Africa Film Academy for his ground-breaking activities in the industry.
Kola Oyewo has been acting for over 60 years. He started his career as a secondary school student in the 1960s. The 74-year-old scholar transited from the theatre to home videos and remains popular not only in the Yoruba movie industry but entire Nigeria’s movie industry. The talented actor’s good grasps of the English Language endeared him to the heart of several people in the industry. He has featured in several movies and holds a doctorate degree in Drama from the University of Ibadan.
Another actor that has refused to be relegated to the background due to age is Idowu Philips. The former healthcare worker, popularly called Iya Rainbow is 78 years old and has acted in over 40 home videos. Her endorsement deal with Nigeria’s Airtel places her among top Nigerian actresses raking millions from endorsement deals.
The list of Nigeria’s septuagenarian actors is uncompleted without Olu Jacobs. The award-winning England trained actor and film executive is rightly a living legend in the Nigeria’s movie industry and remains influential globally. With over 40 years in the industry, he ranks among the greatest all-time icons in the industry and is a beacon of inspiration and motivation for younger actors in the industry. He won the 2007 African Movie Academy Award in the Best Actor in a Leading Role category and a recipient of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award’s Lifetime Achievement Awards in 2016.
Another septuagenarian still in the industry is Peter Fatomilola. The prolific and respectable poet and actor is known for his role as an herbalist in several home videos. He shot into the limelight in several movies including Saworo Ide and Sango. His experience has helped in shaping the path for others especially in the Yoruba movie industry. Fatomilola is an academic member of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife Osun State.
Though not septuagenarian, Lere Paimo ranks among the trailblazer in the industry. His wit, wisdom, and technique in interpreting roles isequal to none in the industry earning him a national award as a Member of the Federal Republic. Eda Onile Ola, as popularly called has spent more than 50 years acting from a member of a theatre group to the production of home videos.
