Famous actor, Sam Loco dies at 66

Sam Loco

By SOLA BALOGUN, BRAIDE DAMIETE, Lagos and Val Okara Owerri

Foremost actor and one of the founding fathers of Nollywood, Chief Sam Loco Efe, is dead, aged 66. He died early yesterday in his hotel room in Owerri, Imo State capital, after returning from a film location. The news was received with shock yesterday by fans who said they would miss the late actor’s comic roles.

 Some of his fans even doubted if he was truly dead, as he was said to have been similarly rumoured dead a few years back, only for him to bounce back hale and hearty.

 Loco died at Rappour Hotels, Owerri in his sleep. He reportedly checked into Room 204 at the weekend. Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar confirmed the incident saying that the late actor was reportedly ill for the whole of last week and that his remains have been deposited at the Aladinma Hospital Mortuary, Owerri.

 But the news of his death filtered round Lagos and other major cities yesterday, following repeated radio announcements and a report by an online newspaper. Hundreds of his fans on Facebook equally mourned him, while many said they would forever miss Loco, who was one of the best actors the country has ever produced.
 Until his death, Loco remained one of the most talented actors of contemporary Nigerian theatre. For many years, he distinguished himself as a rare talent for both television and stage drama.

 Loco hails from Benin in Edo State. He once said people misplaced his background, thinking that his surname; Efe, gave him away as a Delta man. He had explained that Efe was a Benin name, although the Urhobo popularised it. His words: ‘Efe means wealth in Benin and in Urhobo, but it means cloth in Igbo. My surname is fully pronounced Efeeimwonkiyeke, meaning ‘wealth has no time limit.’

 One can be wealthy at 90 when people must have lost hope. What actually happened was that my grandmother was having only female children and after so many years, she gave birth to my father at an old age and when he arrived, the name given to him was “you see now my wealth has finally arrived.” I later inherited this from my father as I was the last of my parents’ children and the only male child’.

 Born in Enugu, the late Sam Loco spent his childhood in Abakaliki, now Ebonyi State capital. His modest attempt at becoming an actor triggered his passion for the stage. He once told his story: ‘There was a time, Government College, Umuahia came to Abakaliki with a production. We all got so excited and I said to myself that if these men can stay on stage before a large audience and render their lines without looking into any book or script, there must be something magical about it.

 A few bold ones among us asked them some questions after the production and they said it was a matter of training and perseverance. So, when they left, I attempted a play that was larger than our collegiate level. I decided to produce William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. I acted Caesar and also directed it without any formal training,’Sam Loco said.

 Popularly known as a comedian cum actor, Sam Loco Efe was said to have quit smoking and drinking, after indulging in the act for 48years of his life. The Edo State Born thespian, who started drinking and smoking on October 1, 1960 turned his back on the ‘twin devils’ in February, 2008.

 He was an apostle of Benson & Hedges cigarrette and several brands of alcoholic beverages until he collapsed one morning while attempting to join a car that was billed to take him to Obosi, Anambra State for the burial of Amaechi Muonagor’s mother. He was rushed to University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu where after reviving him the doctors advised him against continuing with his smoking and drinking.