Renowned Nollywood actor Charles Inojie has expressed his admiration for the late Sam Loco-Efe, hailing him as perhaps the most intelligent actor in the history of Nollywood. In a recent conversation with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Inojie shared anecdotes about Uncle Sam’s unparalleled genius and bemoaned the fact that the legendary actor passed away without receiving a national honour.
Inojie fondly recalled Sam Loco-Efe’s exceptional intelligence, describing moments when the late actor could effortlessly correct lines during rehearsals without actively participating. “He can be here smoking a cigarette, and people are rehearsing that way; you won’t know that his subconscious mind is where they are rehearsing,” Inojie remarked.
The veteran actor highlighted Sam Loco-Efe’s unique approach to script reading, noting that the late actor would read a scene only once and then guide others through their lines. “Uncle Sam was from another planet,” Inojie exclaimed, emphasizing the unparalleled talent that set him apart in the industry.
Expressing regret, Inojie raised concerns about the oversight in not honoring Sam Loco-Efe with a national award. He questioned the disparity between the recognition given to some individuals and the lack of a posthumous honour for a thespian of Sam Loco-Efe’s stature.
Inojie pointed to Sam Loco-Efe’s remarkable achievement at FESTAC 1977, where he played the lead role in ‘Lambodo,’ earning a special mention from the Queen as the best actor in Africa. Despite such accolades and contributions to the film industry, Sam Loco-Efe passed away on August 7, 2011, at the age of 65 without receiving the national honour that Inojie believes he rightfully deserved.