Kneeling to Propose Is Why Western Marriages Fail — Pete Edochie Sparks Fresh Debate

Veteran Nollywood actor Pete Edochie has reignited a fierce debate on marriage traditions, insisting that men who kneel to propose are symbolically surrendering their family headship—a practice he claims has contributed to the high rate of marital breakdown in Western countries.

The 78-year-old actor, who has been married for 56 years and describes himself as an “uncompromising custodian of Igbo culture,” made the remarks during an exclusive interview on the Curiosity Made Me Ask programme with BaeU Barbie. The conversation has sparked widespread discussion on social media about the balance between tradition and modernity in courtship and marriage.

Edochie argued that kneeling to propose is not merely a romantic gesture but carries deep symbolic meaning that many men fail to recognise. Drawing from his Catholic faith, he explained that kneeling—or genuflection—is an expression of reverence before a higher spiritual authority. “In church, you kneel before a superior spiritual entity. So if you kneel to a woman, you’re acknowledging her superiority. It has destroyed the white people—they don’t know it,” he asserted. “If you step down on your knee and you offer a woman a ring, you are conceding headship of the family to that woman. And that is what a lot of you who advocate that don’t even understand,” Edochie stated.

He maintained that the practice is culturally alien to African tradition, particularly Igbo customs. “Kneeling down to propose to a woman is totally wrong, it is not our lifestyle. Kneeling before a girl in Igbo tradition means you are handing over the authority to her. She becomes the head of the family,” he said. According to Edochie, traditional Igbo marriage rites place the woman in the kneeling position—not the man. “Marriage in Igbo tradition is when a lady gives her husband-to-be wine while kneeling down. What does it signify? That the man has been accepted as the husband of the lady. It is the lady who kneels before the husband, not vice versa,” he explained.

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The veteran actor linked the practice of kneeling proposals directly to the instability of marriages in Western societies. “Have you ever asked yourself why marriages don’t last in Western countries? You haven’t. That’s the reason,” he said. Edochie pointed to what he sees as the consequences of this dynamic: “The white man kneels down to propose to a girl, you know what it means? The girl takes over the family. This is why whenever you disagree with your wife overseas, you are kicked out and the wife takes the house.” He further argued that Western societies show a general disregard for the sanctity of marriage, stating that Africans have more to teach the Western world about sustaining long-term unions. “I have been married for the past 56 years, there is no actor in Hollywood who has my record, nor in Nollywood. Something that we can teach the white man is how to get married and keep their marriages. They don’t appreciate the sanctity of marriage and it doesn’t mean anything to them, it’s nonsensical,” he declared. Edochie also addressed the financial implications of divorce in some Western jurisdictions, noting that women may be entitled to a substantial portion of their husbands’ assets following the dissolution of a marriage. “So, if your wife decides to divorce you, she’s entitled to maybe half or 75 per cent of what you have,” he noted.

While acknowledging that culture evolves, Edochie warned against adopting foreign practices that undermine African values. “Culture is eclectic. In its dynamism, it grows. You adapt and you adopt, there are aspects that you can clip off but adopting these things does not have to be at the expense of our culture,” he said. Edochie cited his own marriage as evidence that his approach works. “I didn’t kneel to propose to my wife and we’ve stayed 50 years in our marriage. I took my time to woo her, when it’s time to settle down, I asked if she’ll marry me and that was it,” he recalled.

When interviewer BaeU Barbie—who noted that he personally knelt when proposing—challenged Edochie, asking, “Do I look like a fool?” the veteran actor stood his ground, replying, “I will not take it back.” Edochie has previously used even stronger language, describing men who kneel to propose as “idiots,” “bloody fools,” and “compound buffoons.”

Edochie’s comments have drawn both praise and criticism. Supporters applaud his defence of cultural identity and male headship of the household, while critics view his stance as outdated in an era where kneeling proposals have become a widely accepted romantic gesture, including in Nigeria. His son, actor Yul Edochie, has offered a more nuanced take, agreeing that kneeling is not traditional African culture and that he himself did not kneel, while stressing that the posture of a proposal does not determine the success or respect within a marriage. The debate continues as Nigerians weigh the balance between cultural preservation and modern expressions of love and commitment.

Kneeling to Propose Is Why Western Marriages Fail — Pete Edochie Sparks Fresh Debate

Viral TikTok Live Catches Regina Daniels at Ned Nwoko’s House: Is There a Reconciliation?

Nollywood actress Regina Daniels has sparked fresh reactions after she was reportedly spotted at the residence of her estranged husband, Senator Ned Nwoko, amid the couple’s highly publicised marital crisis and ongoing custody battle over their two sons. A video from a TikTok live session that began circulating on social media on September 4 and 5, 2026, captured Regina at the family residence, where she was seen interacting warmly with her stepson, Amir (Amid) Nwoko, who was broadcasting the live stream, and her two sons, Moon and Khalifa. In the clip, the actress appears unaware she was being filmed. Upon realising the session was being streamed publicly, she is heard saying, “Jesus Jesus Jesus, off it!” as she swiftly moved to end the broadcast. Her appearance at the residence has generated widespread speculation about the current state of her relationship with Nwoko. Some social media users also linked Regina’s presence at the house to her recent reduced activity online, suggesting she may have been spending time with her family away from the public eye.

The public marital crisis between Regina Daniels and Senator Ned Nwoko erupted in October 2025 when a viral video showed the actress in tears, surrounded by aides and family, where she said, “In Ned Nwoko’s house, I am nothing. But in my house, I am a queen. Not again. I can’t stand the violence; it’s too much”. Senator Nwoko denied the domestic violence allegations and instead accused his estranged wife of substance abuse, stating that she needed rehabilitation. In a statement, Nwoko claimed that Regina had been battling drug and alcohol abuse, which he described as the root of their problems. He also alleged that she had been violent, destroying property and assaulting staff members. The dispute also led to the arrest of Regina Daniels’ brother, Sammy, by Senator Nwoko. Regina publicly vowed to secure his release, stating at the time: “Sammy’s detainment is taking way too long, but we will get him out even if I have to march there myself and create a storm! Since they want me!”.

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The marital crisis escalated into a custody dispute over the couple’s two sons, Prince Munir (Moon), born in 2020, and Prince Khalifa, born in 2022. An Abuja Family Court granted temporary custody of the children to Senator Nwoko and ordered that Regina Daniels could only regain access to them after completing supervised drug rehabilitation and undergoing an assessment by the Abuja Social Welfare Department. In December 2025, Regina Daniels stated in a Facebook post that she had not seen her children since mid-November of that year, accusing Nwoko of dismissing her nannies and pressuring them to make false statements against her. In January 2026, Regina Daniels shared a negative drug test result from the United Kingdom, which she said contradicted the senator’s claims, although Nwoko’s team later questioned the validity of the result. She also made the bombshell allegation that their union was never legally formalised, stating: “We were never married in any court of law, and no documents were signed”.

While being seen at Nwoko’s residence does not, on its own, confirm that Regina has returned to the marriage or that the couple have reconciled, the footage has nevertheless added another layer to the ongoing public interest in the actress’ relationship. Neither Regina Daniels nor Ned Nwoko had released any official statement addressing the footage or clarifying the context of the visit at the time of reporting. It remains unclear whether the video was a recent visit, an old recording, or simply a family interaction related to spending time with her children. Some fans suggested that her appearance at the residence might be the reason for her unusually long absence from social media in recent times. Others noted that being seen at the residence could be connected to co-parenting arrangements rather than a reconciliation. However, a recent report indicated that Senator Ned Nwoko has refuted viral claims suggesting he is trying to reconcile with his estranged wife, stating that he no longer wants Regina back in his life. This raises questions about whether the actress’s visit was for reconciliation or related to the ongoing custody dispute over their children.

The saga between Regina Daniels and Senator Ned Nwoko continues to unfold with each new development. While the actress’s appearance at the family residence has sparked speculation about a possible reconciliation, neither party has confirmed any resolution to their marital crisis. For now, the reason for Regina’s visit and whether it signals any change in the status of their marriage remain unclear.

Viral TikTok Live Catches Regina Daniels at Ned Nwoko’s House: Is There a Reconciliation?