Veteran Nollywood actor Pete Edochie has reignited debate over marriage, gender roles and traditional values after insisting that a man who kneels to propose marriage to a woman is effectively surrendering the headship of the family to her.
Edochie made the remarks during an appearance on Bae U Barbie’s “Curiosity Made Me Ask” podcast, where he was asked about his views on relationships, marriage and the changing roles of men and women.
The veteran actor maintained his longstanding position that kneeling during a marriage proposal conflicts with traditional values, particularly within the Igbo cultural context.
“If you step down on your knee and you offer a woman a ring, you are conceding headship of the family to that woman,” Edochie said.
When he was challenged to reconsider the statement, the actor remained firm, responding, “I will not take it back.”
His latest comments echo remarks he made several years ago when a video of him criticising men who kneel to propose went viral.
In a 2020 interview, Edochie argued that kneeling before a woman carries a specific cultural meaning among the Igbo, saying it represents the transfer of authority.
“Kneeling down to propose to a woman is totally wrong, it is not our lifestyle,” he said at the time. “Kneeling before a girl in Igbo tradition means you are handing over the authority to her. She becomes the head of the family.”
He also explained that traditional Igbo marriage ceremonies carry a different symbolism, pointing to the practice in which a woman kneels while presenting wine to her husband-to-be as a sign of acceptance.
Edochie has repeatedly linked his position to his long-standing adherence to African cultural traditions. In a 2025 interview, he described himself as an “uncompromising custodian” of his culture and revisited the controversy surrounding his earlier comments.
“I have been married for the past 56 years,” he said, arguing that African societies have values that could teach Western societies about sustaining marriages.
His position has continued to generate opposing reactions, with some people supporting his emphasis on cultural identity while others view the act of kneeling during a proposal simply as a personal or romantic choice.
Despite the criticism, Edochie has shown no indication of abandoning his position, keeping alive one of Nollywood’s most persistent debates about tradition, modern relationships and the meaning attached to marriage.
