Sam ‘Loco’ Efeimwonkiyeke is one described as a comic personified – notable for his role in Televista’s debut soap opera, Everyday People. He was something of an institution and readily one of the most engaging actors Nigeria has seen, even though he was usually quick to say he is not a comedian.
The footballer-turned-actor earned the name ‘Locomotive’ from the soccer fields which he later shortened to ‘Loco’ and has since adopted as his real name. He had his first shot at acting from interaction with professional actors from Government College, Umuahia who came to perform in Abakaliki where he lived as a child. He took up the challenge thrown at him and performed acts seamlessly without reading off a script. This was stunning for his friends and for him as well as he played the character, Caesar in William Shakespeare’s play as a green horn.
The late actor, 66, attended several primary schools as he alternated education with street trading to earn enough for school. Undeterred by his somewhat delay in education, he went on to become a Theatre Art graduate from the University of Ibadan at a time when his contemporaries like Zack Amata were already at postgraduate levels of the course.
Sam Loco was absent from TV at about 1960 but resurfaced with a bang into limelight in 1977 with his role as Akara Ogun in the epic drama written by the late Chief Wale Ogunyemi, Langbodo the only drama entry at the festival, FESTAC’77 for which he was voted Best Actor. In 1996, he won three more of such accolades.
The actor once informed that he was married to a woman who later died in the United States and he had since moved on to father children from other women. In his charismatic manner, he is also known to have expressed support for polygamy which for him was a soft landing cushion to avoid promiscuity and adultery.
This is not a ‘sad’ moment but a true celebration of the life of one who has made great impact on all of us who interacted with him directly and indirectly, said National President of Director’s Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Mr. Fidelis Duker. “For me, Sam Loco Efe was more than an actor. He was what I describe as an actor’s actor in the sense that he inspired many and directed a lot of young and upcoming in the art and entertainment. As president of the DGN of which he was a member and also a part of the screening committee Sam Loco took great delight in seeing that we made success in our endeavours.” The producer/director added that, this is not a case of praising the dead. “My personal encounter with him began in 1993 when I was doing my first production, Devil’s Empire. He was one of the cast members who encouraged me to carry on even though I couldn’t afford to pay him at the time for his role. In other similar situations, Uncle Sam gave his personal funds to see that the projects were successful. He was open, generous and unrelenting in his support.”
Kunle Afolayan, director of award-winning The Figurine, lamented, saying: “It’s such a shame because he was meant to play a key role in our new film which is set to commence in a few days time. I have really looked forward to working with him for the first time but unfortunately that will have to be in another life.”
“Only a few artistes around the world can boast of a fan base that cuts across different social and generational boundaries,” said Chidi Mokeme, “and Sam Loco is in that league. His talent was extraordinary. As one of the founding pillars of this industry, his death is a monumental loss to Nollywood, Nigeria and Africa as a whole.” Then for award-winning actress Omoni Oboli, “A huge vacuum has been created in the Nigerian movie industry. Scriptwriters will have a hard time writing those characters that he played so effortlessly.”
Chineze Anyaene, who directed the much-buzzed-about movie, Ije, prayed for the repose of his soul and hoped that his legacies will be treasured in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
Beyond Nollywood, Sam Loco made his mark in the academia. Theatre giant, Professor Dapo Adelugba director of the FESTAC’77 edition of Langbodo spoke highly of the late legend who he encountered as a young and upcoming artiste. “Sam was a member of the Performing Company of the University of Ibadan under the headship of Prof. Adedeji. This gave him ample practical as well as theory exposure to theatre. He is experiences were evident in the roles he played showing that he was attuned to audition for roles including that of FESTAC’77 and thereafter. His appearance in Langbodo provided him a good platform for recognition in subsequent roles. “Sam was also a pillar for many soap operas produced after ’77. Thirty years after FESTAC have been remarkable years of productivity in his career. He was a highly committed actor whose works speak for themselves with his excellent performances, diction and charisma. There is so much we will remember him for, but I guess we must say goodbye for now.”
Professor Jenks Okwori, theatre and development communication specialist of the Ahmadu Bello University had this to say. “Sam Loco was one of the last remaining core professionalised artists. He devoted himself to the art of performance and stuck with it even when it was not profitable to say you are an actor. To the best of my knowledge, he never took any job aside from an acting one.”
Interacting with on several occasions, Okwori said, “That was those days when you could find him in one of the kiosks of the National Theatre in Lagos bailing away on his cigarette apparently out of frustration for a society that fail to recognise the bundle of talent and relevance that he was. And after breaking into Nollywood, he brought a difference to his roles which obviously set him apart from the gatecrashers.”
It’s not only the acting world of Nollywood that feels the impact of the loss of Sam Loco. The comedians, many of whom saw him as inspiration and motivation in their careers have also counted their loss. Klint da Drunk expressed who worked on some movies with him in Dubai said, “He was one of the most talented actors in the Nigerian entertainment industry. He was one of the easiest going, fun loving, witty, intelligent and happy men we had around the entertainment scene. We need him immortalized in this country because his achievement is a thing of pride I this country. A man that could speak over ten languages and act like no other was truly a rare gem.”
Sam Loco had a fulfilled life as an actor and until his death was Chairman of the Board of Veteran Actors, Actors Guild of Nigeria as well as head of the Caretaker Committee of the same body. Undergoing mentorship from the great icon in his acting career, comedian Julius Agwu explains that, “Uncle Sam was also like a father to many of us who were there in the early years of the Nigerian video- film industry. As a matter of fact, he directed the first film I ever acted in before Rattlesnake in 1993. His death is indeed a great loss to the Nigerian entertainment industry. He came, he saw and he played his part with so much charisma.”
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