Efe died in his hotel room in Owerri, Imo State, after a post-production work on Unknown Prophet, a film he directed. He was 66.
The Commissioner of Police, Imo State command, Mohammed Abubakar, confirmed the death, which occurred at Rapour Hotel.
The source added that the corpse was taken to the mortuary of Aladinma Hospital in the city.
The President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Mr. Segun Arinze, who also confirmed the death, said Unknown Prophet was shot in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, before Efe and the crew moved to Owerri for its editing.
Arinze told one of our correspondents that when the editing was concluded on the film on Saturday, Efe dismissed other members of the crew, while he waited behind, with the intention to leave Owerri on Sunday.
He added, “We learnt that it was when he did not come out of his room as expected on Sunday that people tried to wake him up. They eventually had to break the door, only to find out that he had passed on.”
Although, there are speculations that he died of cardiac arrest, an inhaler said to have been found beside his corpse suggested that he was also an asthma patient.
Besides, a short tribute by AGN’s Secretary, Chuma Onwudiwe, indicated that the police were also investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of the Benin, Edo State-born versatile actor.
Efe’s death brings to three, the number of popular players in the Nigerian film industry that have died this year. Ashley Nwosu and Ishola Alaasari had earlier passed on.
The passage of Efe may, however, create a bigger vacuum based on the fact that his influence and competence cut across the stage, film, television, comedy and production.
While Arinze described the development as a sad one, Onwudiwe underscored Efe’s great status by describing him as a polyglot, an intellectual and a man of many artistic stature.
Also reacting to the loss, the Artistic Director of the National Troupe of Nigeria, Mr. Martin Adaji, said it was shocking.
In a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, Adaji, who recalled that he met Efe when they were students at the University of Ibadan, said the deceased had been doing well as an actor even before he went for a degree in theatre.
Adaji said, “He was a consummate artist. His death is a great loss to the theatre.”
“Efe was one of the most dedicated artists Nigeria has produced. He lived acting; he enjoyed it. He created happiness and he also reaped happiness doing the work. So, we should thank God for his life,”Kelani added.
Popular comedian, Ali Baba, also eulogised the actor, who was one of the lead characters in Hotel De Jordan, a popular TV series of the 1970s.
In a text message to one of our correspondents, Ali Baba said, “He was a method actor. He could interpret a boring character in any role he played in a way that makes you love the character. He conquered on the stage, television, movies and in real life.”
The comedian added that Efe was also a detribalised Nigerian who was loved by all.
Wazobia FM’s presenter, Lolo, and budding TV host, Joseph Benjamin, also described Efe in glowing words.
Born in 1945 in Enugu, Sam Loco Efeimwonkiyeke, is survived by six children.
While his drama career started out of curiosity when he was a student at Government College, Umuahia, now in Abia State, he made his first major move to establish himself on stage in 1968, when he formed the Overamwen National Theatre Group in Benin.
The graduate of Theatre Arts, however, shot into fame after he was voted the Best Actor for his role in Wale Ogunyemi’s Langbodo, Nigeria’s only drama entry for the historic Festival of Arts and Culture otherwise called FESTAC ’77.
Source: The Punch Newspaper 8 August 2011. http://punchontheweb.com
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