Veteran Nollywood actor Pete Edochie has urged Nigerians to preserve their cultural identity and uphold traditional values, particularly through dressing and respect for elders. He made the call while speaking on Isbae U’s podcast, Curiosity Made Me Ask, as he reflects on his career and approaches his 80th birthday.
Edochie praised the Yoruba people for consistently expressing their cultural identity through traditional attire, urging other ethnic groups to emulate the practice. He said traditional dressing remained an important way of identifying and celebrating Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage, citing the Yoruba and Hausa communities as examples.
The veteran actor also stressed the importance of good character and respect for elders, describing them as longstanding values that have shaped relationships and community life in Nigeria. He expressed concern that modern lifestyles were gradually affecting some of these traditions and called for greater efforts to preserve them.
Reflecting on his acting career, Edochie said he recognised his potential early and decided to develop his talent through experimentation. He said his reputation as a legend was based on how people assessed his decades-long career, rather than a title he gave himself, adding that his influence and interests extended beyond Nigeria to the wider African continent.
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