His mannerism and jagged voice depicted those of a drunken man; not of a person ‘ravaged’ by the effect of hard drugs. His crazy manner happened on the spur-of-the-moment, and one could tell, that Majek Fashek is just a jolly good fellow who is restless and could constitute nuisance.
His sober state came as quick as his restiveness and within that quick solemn moment too, one could liken his face to the innocent look of a child; by this time, his real age was betrayed, and his eye balls reflected how good-looking he was in his heydays.
Fashek’s composed moments appear to be the news, because they tend to happen when he is suspicious of anyone around him. If he got crazy in the presence of a stranger, it was obvious he merely chose to throw caution to the wind. This reporter noticed he was watchful like a vigilant dog. His mood changed slightly when the writer became inquisitive; at that point, he wanted to know who his acquaintance was. They had sat body-close for about three minutes, and the artiste had engaged his company with disjointed tales only a discerning mind could piece together. But when the reporter’s question moved from being interactive, he sensed probity, turned around and asked; “who are you?” without waiting for a reply, he stood up in search of a matches to light a cigarette. “I am a journalist,” and without giving a thought to the reply, he walked away, leaving an almost empty bottle of Stout behind. It was obvious he was buying time, because when he resumed his drinking all that he said before was what the reporter could take home.
The Nation ran into the artiste in a club house, where his manager, Hajia Amina Dangaji and her entourage were waiting for a meeting that afternoon. They had shielded people from taking picture with him or having any formal interaction, but perhaps just so, it didn’t look like he was being policed around, and the little gap created by the singer’s restlessness was what endeared strangers to him.
“Samuel was a servant of Elias… Elah…” began his incoherent tales. “So one day, when Samuel was sleeping, God called him saying, Samuel! Samuliah!! But he got afraid and ran to Elias. He said to him, Ha! Dem call me o… Dem call me o, na you call me? He was afraid, he think say na juju.” He drifted away from the story, dwelling briefly on the subject of mysticism. “But juju na fear,” he continued, “It’s a mind game. The third time God called Elias, he had the boldness, and so he said ‘speak father, your son is listening’. God talks in voices. To work with God, you can be a mental man, if you can handle it. God is a spirit, and he who must worship God, must worship God in truth and in spirit.” He hit the butt of a cigarette against his left arm severally and set its tip on fire.
“You know what? I left my house this morning… I was all alone in my house… Samuel at last, was able to listen to the voice of God. It was Samuel that anointed David abi? I know Bible. I no wan talk…” the reporter appeared lost again, struggling to keep a line of conversation. Tailoring the artiste, he praised Fashek; “I’m sure you understand the Bible than some pastors we find around these days…” The musician took a deep puff at his cigarette and burst out with a song: “Pasito na him be him be?” he tried to sing a line of one of late Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s hits. “Anikulapo, I will never deny Anikulapo. He was an African pastor. He was an Osa (deity)” He said, releasing some spent flame.
“Where you a Bible student at any point in time?” the reporter wanted to know. “I studied the Bible while growing up,” he said. “I know the Bible, but I can’t make references. But I studied the book of Moses. Then at a time, I went overboard. I began to read mystic books. And I had to stop.” He looked sober at this point.
What was the implication for him? “Mystic book is very dangerous,” he said. “You’ve got to go with the rules to avoid accident. The Bible is the best. Mystic books are very dangerous. They have rules, like the native doctors rules.”
“What’s your name?” he asked the reporter. Replying him, Fashek took a deep breath, acting like a parapsychologist. Perhaps there was nothing to the name, he continued. “There are several books, some can lead you astray, but the Bible will not.” He stressed with a tone of finality. Next, he talked about his next album and video. He said it is called ‘Olodumare music’. “Jah music”, he tried to interpret. He said the work is a sole effort and not a collaboration with another artiste.
“Pressman,” he called out after returning to his drink. “You know Nduka?” he asked, apparently referring to Mr. Obaigbena; publisher of Thisday newspaper. “Tell Nduka that you saw me. He is my friend. Na him bring me nah and Azuka na him arrange am wey dem bring Beyonce from South Carolina. Missy Elliot, Snoop dog… at a time I was afraid to stay in Nigeria because of the system. But God is wonderful, and having stayed in Nigeria for a year and half is a miracle. I didn’t know I could do it, but God say make I come. Our people are suffering. After Fela, it’s me. Fela gave me his power. King Benedict of Italian. I am the new Benedict; Gbabee!” he said, tapping the reporter hard, it pained. “Awon orisa… Benedict don dash me the crown. Who born their father?” he drifted again. “Fela came to meet me. He blamed me for not going to Afrika Shrine. I tell you the truth; I’m a prophet of God. Taborah de o Alleluyah.. Ajajun laja ijo wa . eho iho ayo , ekorin…,” he started a popular Yoruba language white-garment church song. “I’m a Taborah boy. I like Oyedepo; Oyedepo is the best. I’m aladura for ever, he said, singing the song again and again.
Popularly called ‘The rain maker’, Fashek held sway as a Reggae musician in the 80s. His musical exploit took him to the United States, where his stardom was on the rise, until he was linked with hard drugs, which brought a setback to his music career. Several philanthropists attempted to rehabilitate the musician, but it appears the artiste is also influenced by close associates who may be benefitting from his fortune. Fashek is said to be enjoying huge royalty for most of his songs from foreign music agencies.
Married with four boys, Majek’s family is in the United States. His second son, Destiny, is still in college but he is into rap music.
