12/09/2026
Obi Okoli Reveals What Happened During 1985 Audition for Things Fall Apart, Says Emeka Nwabueze Beat Pete Edochie
Veteran Nollywood actor Obi Okoli has offered an account of the casting process that preceded the television adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s acclaimed novel Things Fall Apart, claiming that actor Emeka Nwabueze initially outperformed Pete Edochie during the audition for the role of Okonkwo.
Speaking during an interview with First Mate Multimedia, Okoli compared the acting abilities of Nwabueze and Edochie, particularly their ability to portray characters from different social backgrounds.
According to Okoli, Nwabueze possessed a broad acting range and could convincingly transform himself to fit different roles. He said the actor could portray characters such as an impoverished man or an intellectually challenged person if required by a production.
Okoli contrasted this with his description of Edochie’s screen persona at the time, arguing that Edochie was particularly suited to portraying wealthy, influential and powerful characters.
The veteran actor said this difference became evident during the audition for Things Fall Apart in 1985, where both actors reportedly competed for the role of Okonkwo, the central character in Achebe’s novel.
Okoli claimed that Nwabueze actually scored higher than Edochie during the audition.
“Emeka is a consummate actor. If you want Emeka to play an imbecile for you, Emeka will play it. If you want him to play a poor man, Emeka will play it. Pete cannot play an imbecile. Pete cannot play a poor man. Pete can always play a rich big man. Emeka beat Pete at the audition. Just as they are talking, the scores are there.”
The comments provide a different perspective on the early career of Pete Edochie, who would later become widely associated with the character of Okonkwo after portraying him in the television adaptation of Things Fall Apart.
However, Okoli’s statements are his personal recollection of the audition and the
