Ayobami @ayoh9

BEFORE OKONKWO, THERE WAS TAIWO AJAI-LYCETT Pete Edochie Is a Legend — But Nigerian Theatre History Did Not Begin With Him By Ishola Adebiyi | The Trojan Beast Pete Edochie is unquestionably one of the greatest actors Nigeria has ever produced. His voice, screen presence and iconic portrayal of Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart helped establish him as one of the most recognisable actors on the African continent. But greatness is not the same thing as seniority. That distinction matters because Edochie has recently spoken in a way that has been interpreted as suggesting that he has no real senior colleagues left in Nigerian acting, particularly in theatre and stage performance. That claim deserves historical scrutiny. And once the timeline is examined, it becomes difficult to sustain. Long before Pete Edochie became nationally famous as Okonkwo, several Nigerian actors and theatre practitioners had already spent years — in some cases decades — performing professionally. One of the clearest examples is Taiwo Ajai-Lycett. Ajai-Lycett began professional acting in the 1960s. In 1966, she appeared in Wole Soyinka’s The Lion and the Jewel at the Royal Court Theatre in London. That means Taiwo Ajai-Lycett had a documented professional theatre career before Pete Edochie’s own early stage years and almost two decades before the Things Fall Apart performance that made him a household name. This is important because the history of Nigerian acting did not begin with Nollywood, and it certainly did not begin in the 1980s. Before home video, there was theatre. Before Nollywood, there were travelling theatre companies. Before VHS tapes, there were stage performances, television dramas, folk operas and touring productions. And the Yoruba theatre tradition was one of the strongest foundations of modern Nigerian acting. Performers associated with the traditions of Hubert Ogunde, Duro Ladipo, Kola Ogunmola, Oyin Adejobi and other pioneers were already building professional careers long before the Nollywood era. Among the surviving veterans whose careers predate Pete Edochie’s major national breakthrough are names such as Lere Paimo, Kareem Adepoju, Adebayo Salami, Jide Kosoko, Abiodun Duro-Ladipo and Taiwo Ajai-Lycett. Lere Paimo’s career stretches back to around the beginning of the 1960s. Kareem Adepoju, popularly known as Baba Wande, became involved professionally with the Duro Ladipo theatre tradition in the early 1960s. Adebayo Salami, Oga Bello, traces his professional acting career to 1964. Jide Kosoko also began acting as a child in the 1960s. Abiodun Duro-Ladipo was already performing in major stage productions during that same period. Taiwo Ajai-Lycett was professionally active by 1966. That chronology is important. Pete Edochie has spoken of acting on stage before his famous Things Fall Apart role, and his wider career certainly did not begin in 1985. But even granting his earlier stage experience, Nigerian theatre already contained established performers before he became a national screen icon. And if the reference point is his celebrated portrayal of Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart in the mid-1980s, the seniority argument becomes even weaker. By that period, some of these actors had already accumulated 20 years or more of professional experience. Taiwo Ajai-Lycett alone had been performing professionally since the 1960s. So the correct historical position is not that Pete Edochie is somehow less important. He is a giant. But Nigerian acting history is bigger than any one giant. The mistake is to confuse fame with chronology. A performer may become more famous than people who came before him without becoming older than them professionally. Pete Edochie’s portrayal of Okonkwo may have become one of the most memorable performances in Nigerian television history, but it did not erase the actors and theatre practitioners who had already spent years building the industry. And this is where Taiwo Ajai-Lycett becomes particularly important. She represents a generation of Nigerian performers whose careers challenge the idea that the surviving senior history of Nigerian acting begins with Pete Edochie. She was already on the professional stage in 1966. She worked across theatre, television and film. She performed internationally. And she remains part of the living history of Nigerian performance. The same applies to several veterans of the Yoruba theatre tradition. That history deserves to be remembered accurately. There is also a wider lesson here. Nollywood is only one chapter of Nigerian performance history. The generation that became famous through Nollywood inherited an industry shaped by stage actors, broadcasters, travelling theatre companies, television producers and cultural performers who came before them. The Yoruba travelling theatre tradition in particular produced a deep bench of performers whose careers began decades before the modern Nollywood boom. That history cannot simply be brushed aside. So when the question is asked, “Does Pete Edochie have surviving senior colleagues in Nigerian acting?” The answer is straightforward. Yes. If seniority is measured by documented professional participation in theatre, stage or acting, there are surviving Nigerian performers whose careers began before his major rise to fame and, in some cases, before his own early stage years. That does not diminish Pete Edochie. It simply corrects the record. Pete Edochie is a legend. Taiwo Ajai-Lycett is a legend. Lere Paimo is a legend. Baba Wande is a legend. Adebayo Salami is a legend. Jide Kosoko is a legend. And Nigerian theatre history belongs to all of them. THE TROJAN BEAST VERDICT The suggestion that Pete Edochie has no surviving senior colleagues in Nigerian acting is historically inaccurate if “senior” refers to professional career chronology. Several living Nigerian actors began professional theatre and acting careers before Pete Edochie became nationally famous, with Taiwo Ajai-Lycett’s documented professional stage work dating back to 1966. Before Okonkwo became a television legend, Nigerian theatre already had legends. And some of them are still here.

We’re proud to announce that Payaza has officially received regulatory approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission. This green light not only marks a major step forward in our growth journey, it also reaffirms our commitment to building a trusted, transparent and secure financial ecosystem across Africa and beyond. To our partners, customers and team thank you for your unwavering belief in our mission. The future of digital finance just got even brighter. #Payaza #RegulatoryApproval #FintechAfrica #SEC #MilestoneMoment

this video cracks me up every single time.

Merry Christmas! ✨🎄 May your days be filled with love, laughter, and festive cheer. From all of us at Payaza, thank you for being part of our journey. Here’s to a season of joy and blessings! #Payaza #MerryChristmas #HollyJollyChristmas #SeasonOfGiving #PayazaCheers #Festive

Wishing a Merry Christmas 🎄 to the entire Christian community in 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia and beyond. Santa Claus 🎅🏻 in Aramco's residence in Buqayq, 1968 AD.

Season’s greetings from all of us at Payaza!🎄 Wishing our incredible merchants, stakeholders, and everyone in our community a Merry Christmas and joyful holidays. Thank you for trusting us as your payment partner this year—here’s to a brighter and more successful 2025 together! 🎁 #Payaza #MerryChristmas #HappyHolidays

This season of joy, let every wish come true without the stress of complicated payments! With Payaza, your trusted payment gateway, you can shop for the perfect gifts, plan your festive surprises, and make cherished memories—all backed by smooth, secure, and reliable transactions. From online purchases to supporting your favorite businesses, trust Payaza to make your celebrations magical. #Payaza #SecureTransactions #HolidayWishes #ChristmasShoppingMadeEasy #SeamlessPayments #DearSanta #SeasonOfGiving

When the team hears the marketing girl say, ‘Just one quick video, for the hundredth time this week🫠🎥 The struggle is real! #Payaza #Marketing #BehindTheScenes #OfficeChronicles #Teamwork

ABOUT. THE ALBUM. 17•12•24 Save The Date!

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🎶 “What’s your work anthem?” 🎶 Here at Payaza, we work hard and vibe harder! From powering seamless payments to creating innovative solutions, we’ve all got that one song that keeps us going. 🎧 💬 Drop your work anthem in the comments — let’s build the ultimate Payaza playlist! #Payaza #PayazaTeam #TeamAnthem #WorkHardVibeHard #PayazaInnovates

🎶 Throwing it Back in Style! 🎶 The Payaza Retro Themed Gala Night was a groovy celebration of our successes and the incredible team behind them! From vintage vibes to timeless connections, it was a night to remember. Cheers to ending the year on a high note and stepping into the future with gratitude and excitement! 🥂 #Payaza #PayazaRetroGala #CelebratingSuccess #ThrowbackVibes #TeamPayaza

@mypayaza joins the Lagos Liga family! They were represented by Damilola Adeniji, at today’s Lagos Liga press conference, sharing their excitement about the partnership and what they’re looking forward to as we continue to grow together. Hear from them on how this collaboration will elevate the game. We.All.Play

#Throwback to #IMD, when we reminded our men how much they mean to us, shared tokens of appreciation, and treated them to an evening filled with laughter. While International Men’s Day has passed, one truth remains—men are human too, with emotions that deserve recognition.

Grateful hearts, united spirits! This Thanksgiving, Payaza gathered to thank God for an incredible year of growth, challenges, and victories. An evening filled with praise, reflection, and appreciation for the journey so far. Here’s to faith, gratitude, and many more blessings ahead! #Payaza #ThanksgivingAtPayaza #GratefulHearts #PraiseAndGratitude

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What a night to remember! Our end-of-year dinner was the perfect way to celebrate an incredible year, and our retro theme brought all the vibes! Swipe through to see how the Payaza team stepped back in time and SLAYED! From stunning vintage looks to unforgettable moments, we wrapped up the year in style. 💫 #PayazaEndOfYear #RetroVibes #TeamSlay #PayazaFamily #YearInStyle #WorkHardPlayHard

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As the year winds down, it’s the perfect time to reflect on our journey, celebrate the wins (big and small), and express appreciation for those who’ve been part of our story. Let’s fill this month with kindness, warmth, and unforgettable moments. Spread joy, give back, and embrace the spirit of the season. Here’s to closing the year with gratitude and stepping into a new one with hope and excitement! 🎄❤️ #Payaza #SeasonOfGratitude #DecemberCheer #FestiveVibes #SpreadJoy #SeamlessTransactions

Earlier this week, Payaza had the privilege of visiting the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on a courtesy visit to share our journey, achievements, and vision for the future. #Payaza #PayazaRatings #CBN #Globalpayments #Paymentsolutions

Announcing the Winners of Payaza FinTech Hackathon 3.0! After two days of groundbreaking innovation and creativity, we are thrilled to reveal the winners of the Payaza FinTech Hackathon 3.0: 🥇 Grand Prize Winner: Team Horizon AI,earning $5,000 and 10 weeks in the Payaza Incubator Program to bring their ideas to life! 🥈 1st Runner-Up: Team OG Pay, awarded $3,000! 🥉 2nd Runner-Up:Team Innospace X, taking home $1,500! Congratulations to all participants for their exceptional effort and to the winners for standing out in a field of remarkable talent. This was a celebration of innovation, teamwork, and the future of fintech. Stay tuned for the full event highlights on our YouTube channel youtube.com/@payazaafrical… #Payaza #PayazaHackathon3.0 #InnovationUnleashed #AIForInclusion #FinTechFuture

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💡 Here's a tip for you Start saving for your future today! The earlier you begin, the more comfortable your golden years can be.💰 #Bank78 #EveryWayMoneyMoves #FutureReady #RetirementPlanning