Veteran Actor Pete Edochie Honoured as Royal Patriarch of Ikenga Abiama Dynasty
By Olisemeka Obeche
The Board of Trustee, BOT and Executive of Ikenga Dynasty Foundation has formally approved the appointment of His Royal Majesty, Dr. (Sir) Pete Edochie as its Royal Patriarch- Commander of Tradition and Customs of Ikenga Dynasty of Igboland, Federal Republic of Nigeria in recognition
Edochie’s appointment as the Commander of Tradition and Customs of the prestigious Pan-Igbo and African Foundation was confirmed in a letter dated September 12, 2024.
The founder and Chairperson of Ikenga Abiama Dynasty Foundation, Ambassador Dr. Uba Iwunwa, who confirmed the appointment in a statement also paid glowing tribute to the veteran Nollywood actor for his key role in her acting career as well as elevation and coronation as Queen Ugobeze.
She described Edochie as a father-figure whose prayers and support had been instrumental to her elevation as traditional queen mother of Igbo descent at a global stage.
According to Uba, the journey of her ascension on the throne as Queen Ugobeze started with the divine connection between her and Edochie, the Ogadagidi 1 of Nollywood, Ebubedike Ndi Igbo and Ezekaibeya of Africa, the African movie king, when both were coronated by His Imperial Royal Majesty, King Aba Obazi IV on 17th August 2022 at Ofu-Obi Cultural Center, Enugu, Nigeria.
“Edochie is one the core royal fathers who contributed to the traditional rites and the installation of Queen Ugobeze as well as the establishment of the Royal Humanitarian network, Ikenga-Abiama Dynasty Foundation to promote cultural diversity for the upliftment of Igbo cultural heritage globally.
“The Grand Patriarch and the Supreme Commander of the Ikenga-Abiama Dynasty Royal Court, HIRM King Prof Barthsy Ojoi Enebiene GJP. Aba Obazi IV with the African Royal Queen-Mother, HIRM Queen Ugobeze and all the Executive Board of Directors of Ikenga Dynasty looked into what they considered as a lifetime career achievement and decided to honour him as the Royal Patriarch and the Commander of Tradition and Customs of Ikenga-Abiama Dynasty. This is our little way of celebrating him”, she adds.
Edochie who came into limelight in the 1980s, following his lead role as a major character ‘Okonkwo’ in a Nigerian Television Authority adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s all-time best-selling novel, Things Fall Apart, is considered one of Nigeria’s most talented actors.
The broadcaster turned actor, bagged an Industry Merit Award by Africa Magic and Lifetime Achievement by Africa Film Academy for his outstanding performance in over 80 movies he had featured during his career.
Describing Edochie as Ezekaibeya of Africa (King greater than others of Africa), Uba penned a glowing tribute to the veteran Nollywood actor. She wrote:
“A traditional libation prayer of a father to his beloved daughter has become the voice of the Almighty God, host of Angels and the voice of Ancestral Spirit of Igboland. An official royal installation and the inauguration royal outing of the production of the cultural ancestral libation and redemption song “WIND OF DESTINY”. An exhibition of ancient ancestral call to service.
“Ebubedike is a pillar holding up Queen Ugobeze to break grounds of limitations of gender inequality and to be a voice for the voiceless and hope for the hopeless in her quest to uphold the legacy of her Royal Shamanic Bloodline from the Grand Matriarch, HRM Late Lolo Ugoeze Usanma Durumba (Nee Okwara Ihenakwe) to the blessed memory of Omeonu-Uwa II, Elder Sir Josiah Achinulo Chinyere of Nkwerre, Imo-State, Nigeria.
