Yoruba Theatre Started Before Nollywood – Lere Paimo Counters Pete Edochie 

Veteran Yoruba actor Lere Paimo has weighed in on the debate over who pioneered Nollywood, arguing that Yoruba theatre existed long before the English-language productions often associated with actors like Pete Edochie.

Speaking in a YouTube interview with Kunle Afod, the 86-year-old stated that he began acting in 1958, four years before Edochie said his own career started in 1962 at the age of 15.

The debate was sparked after Edochie, during a recent interview with IsbaeU on Curiosity Made Me Ask, challenged colleagues to prove if anyone began acting before him, citing his 1962 role in William Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice'. Paimo, however, countered by saying he started acting in 1958 and met Hubert Ogunde, who was senior to him and others.

He noted that from history, Ogunde started in the 1940s, and there was no record of any English-language production predating him. Paimo argued that since there is no documentation of English-speaking movies starting earlier, the Yoruba industry pioneered film production in Nigeria.

He also addressed claims about other early theatre figures, stating that while he had heard of Baba Olumegbon, he could not confirm whether he started before Ogunde.

He said:
"I started acting in 1958. I met Hubert Ogunde, who was senior to me and others, and there were big movies produced back then."

"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."

"Since we didn't hear or read that in any history books or documentation, I believe the Yoruba industry started first. There was nothing like English-speaking movie production then; Ogunde started by producing movies in the Yoruba language, which he used to educate everyone who watched those movies back then. We never heard about English-speaking movies until now, when, with civilisation, we started hearing and seeing that there are English-speaking movies."

"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."

Chief Lere Paimo (MFR) born November 19, 1939, in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, is a legendary Nigerian actor, filmmaker, and cultural icon.

He began his professional acting career in 1958 with the Oyin Adejobi Theatre Group and later joined Duro Ladipo's group, where he played Chief Basa in the stage play Obamoro. He achieved widespread fame for his role as the brave hunter Soun Ogunola in the historic Yoruba epic film Ogbori Elemosho in 1963.