“Uncle Sam Died Without a National Honour” — Charles Inojie Laments Sam Loco Efe’s Unrecognized Legacy

Veteran actor Charles Inojie has reflected on the legacy of late Nollywood actor Sam Loco Efe, describing him as one of the most intelligent and gifted actors he has ever encountered.

Speaking during a resurfaced interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Inojie praised Efe’s exceptional memory, acting ability and understanding of the craft.

“Uncle Sam died without a national honour. He is perhaps the most intelligent Nollywood actor,” Inojie said.

He recalled how Efe could work through scenes with remarkable ease, saying the late actor needed to read his lines with a colleague only once before being able to deliver them flawlessly.

“Uncle Sam could be here now and people are just rehearsing and reading, you won’t know that his subconscious mind is with them. He will just say, ‘Don’t say that line.’ If you have a scene to play with him, Uncle Sam will only read with you once. He will say his lines when you miss yours. He will tell you your lines,” he recalled.

Inojie said he had never encountered another actor with the same level of ability, describing Efe as being in a class of his own.

“Since I have known people, I haven’t seen his type before. Uncle Sam was from another planet,” he said.

The actor, however, expressed disappointment that Efe died without receiving a national honour, despite his decades of contribution to Nigerian entertainment.

He contrasted Efe’s situation with the recognition given to people he described as newcomers and inexperienced figures, suggesting that political connections often influence the recipients of national honours.

“Imagine, Uncle Sam died without a national honour in a country where national honours are being given to neophytes, upstarts and greenhorns. Uncle Sam died without a national honour,” he said.

Inojie also recalled Efe’s achievement at Festac ’77, claiming that the late actor received a special assignment from the Queen after being recognised as one of Africa’s best actors.

He suggested that a lasting institution could be established in Efe’s honour, proposing the creation of a performing arts institution bearing his name.

“If Nigeria decide that, oh, this is university performing arts, or Sam Loco University of Performing Arts, it’s not too bad,” he said.

Inojie concluded by criticising what he described as the influence of politics and personal connections in determining who receives national recognition.

“That is why you find someone who just joined the industry some five years ago, but because of who they know within and around Aso Rock, they could just be the next MFR or MON or whatever,” he added.