Coming back home will be very incinerating for Majek, I have no doubt about that. Linking back to the source of his inspiration and the conspiracy that admired and nurtured him. So I do not know how he is going to deal with a combination of this reverend and the discipline required to bounce back as one of Africa leading artistes.. So between this reverend and this appreciation of his past, it is left determined to him to prove that he has energy to re-invest himself and chart the way forward to the 21 century”.
BY GBENGA SALAU
SHORTLY before mounting the stage that day, he sat in acorner of the hall — calmly, sober, like someone in deep reflection and rumination except for occasional shouting of one love from guests trooping into the venue; and he would respond with a display of one love sign to acknowledge the greeting. He was motionless. At a point, he became hysterical, threatening to hit a girl with one of the bottles of red wine on his table.
He was physically far from his old self. He had lost weight, and the radiance he was known for; and when he talked, his words were incoherent. A reflection of his mental state. He found it difficult to comprehend what some of the fans who greeted him said. A friend sitting by him had to repeat words and explained to him before he could understand and respond.
On stage amazingly, he was in full command of the band, dictating the rhythm. His rendition of No more sorrow, electrified the audienece making many to gig and sing along with him. His sonorous voice was still there, but he soon lost out after that track, not able to sing any of his tracks properly, juggling the lines and mixing the different tracks together.
At a point, he took one of the guitars and played it for about 15 minutes after which he backed out from the stage.
While on stage, he made occasional pronunciations such as Yesufu, which were not easily onderstood.
Majek Fashek was a hero. His songs were gospel truth, telling the truth not with the side of the tongue. Due to this, his songs were accepted and became National Anthem.
He then moved on for greener pastures to the USA. In the USA, he continued to play his music and his fame continued to rise as he performed with renowned names in world music.
While in the US, he organized and participated in many concerts. Thereafter, there were news that his health state has degenerated and deteriorated. Some attributed it to spiritual attack, others said it was drug related, some others maintained it was alcoholism.
Afterward, he came home and efforts were made to rehabilitate him especially by Sunny Okosun but in the process death took Okosun away.
Last week, Majek performed at a friend’s father funeral and our reporter was at the scene.
While playing, he was spurred up by one of the band members through occasional screaming of his name Majek, which the Guardian observed stimulated him to perform.
After he left the stage, The Guardian spoke with some of the guests aon he Majek they knew and the Majek that played that night.
Chief Hayes Anunobi:
“Majek is a talented musician. We thank God for his life, and I believe God will restore him back.”
Mercy Dogo:
“This is my first time of seeing him on stage and he has really done well. I ued to think he was dead. He played nice. The health is really bad. Mere looking at him, you will know he is on drug, I just hope with time he will be okay”.
Nduka Otiono:
“I want to comment based on two levels, first as somebody who has seen him in his right frame of mind and as somebody seeing him now. The last time I saw Majek play was in 1991 at the Children of Africa Show alongside Rita Marley and Manu Dibango. He played so gracefully that rain fell. Looking at him today, I still see some of the attributes of the old Majek in him. He would have been our Jimi Hendrix if not for his health. He is one whose career seems to have shrunk. One, who has a natural talent to command attention, even when he may not have put in his best. That could be told by the electrifying approach and the entire crowd here, which concentrated attention on him especially when he played the solo. Coming back home will do him some good, I have no doubt about that. It will be of help for him to link back to the source of his inspiration that nurtured him and with the required discipline he will bounce back as one of Africa’s leading artistes. So, it is left for him to decide and prove that he has the energy to re-invest and chart the way forward to the 21 century.”
Bola Adun:
“He still has that dexterity though it is better than when he came back from the US the other time. He is better off now, but he still needs to be refined. He is still great and has very good things to deliver to Nigerians. We can assist him to go off drug.”
... Soundbytes from Majek
On Religion and spirituality
Our religion, as prisoners of conscience, is libation; no strings attached. You are dealing with the chemistry of nature. It’s a little dangerous because one could become a drunk; so, some people do not like to do it. But if you can control it and use it directly, it is a stronger way to communicate with God, and by kneeling down like this here in the park, brings God nearer. You can ask “help me Lord, I need to work to have my daily bread. In the mystic world, we say Jesus the Christ — a man that has attained Christ consciousness. So, Rastafari believe that Selassie attained Christ consciousness in his kingly character.
You have to be able to maintain Christ consciousness, that is the difficult part. There are demons; we are dealing with some serious shit right now, some very serious things. And that is why right now it is difficult. Josiah, Selassie I, attained Christ consciousness. Bob Marley, too, attained it whether he liked it or not. It was after he died that many more started to listen to his message. Zachariah, Jeremiah, they were dealing with Christ consciousness. Elijah was the toughest; he went through the chambers of fire. So, I don’t worship idols, but I respect them. But in this age, man has to fulfill the prophecy. That’s what I am talking about.
On Fela
Fela was an ancient ancestral spirit from Africa — Africans have their prophets too. In Africa, we have our own prophets. The African prophets supposed to be an inspiration to direct us to God and not to be deified. Sango was a prophet; Obatala and Ogun among others were all prophets of God from Africa. God is giving you the authority as a man to communicate with Him through these heavenly beings, but you have to do that with reverence.
What Bob Marley was to the world was what Fela was to Africa. Yet, Fela worshipped idols, that was why he was limited. That is why Bob Marley surpassed him. Fela would in the presence of all bring out these images. Bob Marley stressed one God that is why he was a hero of the world. Fela even called his club “shrine”, which was against the rules of God. Idol worshipping smells, if you go to a shrine, it smells. I do not propose it to the people and God does not like it.
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