Veteran Nollywood actor Pete Edochie has urged Nigerians to preserve their cultural identity, particularly through traditional dressing, and uphold age-old values that define Nigerian culture.

Mr Edochie made the call while speaking on Isbae U’s podcast, Curiosity Made Me Ask, where he reflected on his career, cultural identity, influence and life as he prepares for his 80th birthday.

According to the actor, he has only a few months to become an octogenarian, and he intends to use his experience and influence to impact his fellow men and society positively.

Mr Edochie noted that Nigerian culture is built on deeply rooted traditional values of good character and respect for elders, which guide daily life, relationships, and community interactions.

He noted that these values and unique cultural identity defined each ethnic group, adding that modern life was, however, impacting these traditions.

The actor expressed admiration for the Yoruba people for consistently expressing their cultural identity through their dressing, saying other Nigerian communities should emulate the practice.

“I have a lot of respect for the Yoruba man. He does not joke with his culture. No matter the situation he comes across with his culture, and I love him for that.

“I want my people to do the same thing,” he said.

Mr Edochie noted that traditional dressing remained an important means of cultural expression, observing that people could often identify members of particular ethnic groups through their traditional attire.

While stressing the need for Nigerians to value their local traditions, he cited the Yorubas and Hausas as examples of people who have continued to express their cultural identity through dressing.

The veteran actor also advocated respect for elders, particularly in how younger people address them, describing respect as an important cultural value.

Reflecting on his career, Mr Edochie said he had always seen himself as having the potential to become an actor and decided to explore the talent at some point.

“I saw myself as something of an actor, and I decided to experiment, and it worked. That’s it,” he said.

He added that he had always believed he could emulate whatever he observed, a quality he said contributed to his development as an actor.

Mr Edochie also spoke about his status in the entertainment industry, saying people described him as a legend based on their assessment of his career rather than through self-proclamation.

“People refer to me as a legend. I don’t introduce myself as one. They assess me as one,” he said.

He said he was not in competition with anyone and had never sought to impress people through his work.

The actor further asserted that his relevance extended beyond Nigeria, saying his recognition should be viewed from a broader African perspective.

“Whatever concerns me is not restricted to Nigeria,” he said.

The actor’s comments come as he approaches his 80th birthday, with his reflections highlighting the relationship between his long career, cultural identity and responsibility to influence the younger generation positively.

(NAN)