PETE EDOCHIE’S GREETING TO OONI OF IFE REIGNITES CULTURAL RESPECT DEBATE

A resurfaced encounter between veteran Nollywood actor Pete Edochie and the Ooni of Ife has reopened conversations about tradition, royal etiquette and the different ways respect is expressed across Nigeria.

A resurfaced video showing veteran Nollywood actor Pete Edochie greeting the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has once again sparked a heated conversation online.
The footage, originally recorded at the 2023 birthday celebration of Elizabeth Jack-Rich, captured Edochie approaching the monarch and exchanging a distinctive handshake with him. The greeting, rather than the bow or prostration some viewers expected when meeting a Yoruba monarch, quickly became a subject of debate.
When the video resurfaced in September 2026, reactions returned almost immediately. Some Nigerians questioned why Edochie did not bow before the Ooni, describing the gesture as inconsistent with Yoruba royal etiquette. Others defended the veteran actor, arguing that he was a highly titled Igbo chief and that the greeting reflected Igbo cultural practice rather than disrespect.
The debate has also drawn attention to the setting of the encounter. Reports from the original incident noted that the meeting took place at a social event rather than inside the Ooni’s palace. For supporters of Edochie, that distinction matters because cultural expectations can change depending on the setting, the identities of the people involved and the traditions they represent.
The Ooni himself appeared to receive the greeting warmly, and the exchange did not appear confrontational. That detail has been repeatedly cited by those who believe the moment should be viewed as a meeting between two respected traditional figures rather than as an insult.
Edochie has now also spoken about the controversy. In a recent interview, he explained that the greeting was connected to familiarity between himself and the Ooni and described the handshake as one associated with people of high title and standing.
Ultimately, the controversy has grown beyond one handshake. It has become another example of how Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity can produce different expectations around respect, titles and traditional authority. While some Nigerians believe royal protocol should take precedence, others maintain that cultural identity should also be respected.
For now, the resurfaced clip continues to generate discussion, with Nigerians once again debating a simple question that has no universally accepted answer: when two traditional cultures meet, whose greeting protocol should take the lead?
Source note: Details cross-checked against published Nigerian reports on the resurfaced video and Edochie’s recent explanation.