Nobody doubts that diamonds are forever. But when a certain Majek
Fashek is seated before you, it is an invitation to doubt. Once the
gleaming jewel of Nigerian music, Majek is now a shell of a man; a
diamond turned to lead.
His once attractive face offers a passable imitation of a badly kept
grave. The eyes are sunken and sad. The upper teeth, coloured by
relentless smoking of marijuana and cigarettes, are an advertisement for
abysmal dental hygiene.
Years of cocaine use and lack of care have made him dangerously
gaunt, with clothes hanging on him almost like they would on a stick.
Majek is broke and broken. At a decrepit drinking den, where this
interview held, Majek was punishing his liver with a potent mix of
Chelsea Dry Gin and Guiness Stout–for which it turned out he had no
money to pay.
When the bar owner asked for his money, Majek told him his Personal
Assistant would pay the next day. Of course, the bar owner would have
none that. The interviewer had to pay N1,000 out of his bill of N1,450.
But it is not just the body that bears the symptoms of his grim
existence. Majek’s mind is sufficiently scrambled; flights of fancy are
regular. In his world, he remains a top star and actually believes that
he belongs on the same pedestal as Michael Jackson and James Brown.
He has convinced himself that he is a prophet. In fact, the last
prophet–after Jesus! He is similarly persuaded that he is a
revolutionary and desires to feed the poor, a class in which he is an
eminent member.
Gangster Rasta, the album he plans to release soon, he believes, will
reboot his badly blighted career, which famously produced the Prisoner
of Conscience album that delivered two iconic hits, Send Down The Rain
and Redemption Song, a stupendous remake of the Bob Marley classic.
What the fallen star needs right away is redemption. If he achieves
that, it would rank as one of the greatest comebacks in Nigerian music.
Majek is down. Is he out? With an undiminished appetite for cocaine,
chances are that he is. All the same, fingers crossed.
Majek Fashek, the reggae singer who slipped from stardom into obscurity, talks about his plans to relaunch shattered career
What is Majek up to
I’m working on a new album. I’m a business man, so I’m working with my
Personal Assistant and Media Manager, MC Morris, to make sure that
things fall into place. I’m the last prophet standing after Bob Marley,
Fela Anikulapo and Jesus Christ.
Tell us about the album
It is called Gangster Rasta. It’s a new ace, which someone like Ras
Kimono cannot do. Kimono is my boy. I produced him and Victor Eshiet and
a whole lot of others.
What I’m saying is that my new album is not in Kimono’s level; I’m on
a higher level just like Michael Jackson and James Brown, who was a
master to Fela Kuti. Fela was looking up to James Brown and actually
studied him. I and Morris have a company now called Underground System
Records, USR.
It is already registered in Los Angeles, California. We created that
company because of young musicians. Morris is close to the young ones
like Tuface and Wizkid and I’m happy to see them shine. We intend to
register the company here as well and use it as a platform to get the
youths out of the streets and criminality.
I’m an American citizen. I may decide to go back there now because my
wife and children are there. But I’m here because Nigerians are
suffering and there is nobody to speak for them.
Fela is gone, and Femi cannot do it because he is weak. I fear nobody
because I’m a gangster. Bob Marley said it takes a revolution to make a
solution. There are many kinds of revolution.
There is bloody revolution, but we don’t want that for Nigerians.
What Nigerians need is a tactful revolution, so that we won’t shed human
blood. What we want is revolution of freedom. Like Bob Marley said:
“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery…” That is the revolution I’m
working on. I have a temple and shrine called Prisoners of Conscience
Headquarters and every day, I pray against bloodshed among my people.
You said after Fela and Jesus Christ, you are the last prophet standing
I follow Jesus Christ’s ideas, not that of Bishop Oyedepo or Okotie
and the rest. I’m not on their level. My level is that of Aladura and
Babalawo.
In your Gangster Rasta album, who did you target with your message
I don’t target people. The message I’m passing is freedom for the poor. I
already have a programme called Operation Feed the Poor. Some of the
governors like Oshiomhole, Fashola and Akpabio are my friends and should
be part of it. Next year by the grace of God, I will be embarking on a
tour of Operation Feed the Poor.
What should your fans expect from you
I’m not into materialism. The programme I’m doing is mainly to help the
poor. But if I’m poor, I cannot help the poor. That is the kind of
revolution I’m talking about–the rich must help the poor. That is why
I’m embarking on the tour.
I met Obasanjo in New York and told him about Operation Feed the
Poor, but he didn’t take it seriously. That is why I no longer consider
him my friend.
What has been happening since 2005 when you released your last album
I went to the United States of America. I didn’t have a choice because I
have a contract there with Interscope Records, the same company that
produces Dr. Dre, Tupac and many other big stars.
But the thing is that when Americans give you a contract, you must be
there. For example, Sade Adu cannot come to Nigeria. Seal is a
millionaire, but he cannot come here because he has a contract over
there. If they come to Nigeria, they would have breached the terms of
the contract. It is only me who broke their rules by coming down to
Nigeria and that is why they don’t like me.
How so
They don’t like me because I broke their rules. I’m in Nigeria now, but
I’m not supposed to be here. I’m a son of America, so the CIA and FBI
monitor me. As I dey here now, I’m in trouble because for me to go back
there, I must first go to the American Embassy and explain myself to the
Consular-General.
Do you have intention to do that anytime soon
Why not? My four sons and wife are there, so I must go back. I don’t
have a choice. But for me to go back, I must work here first.
Charles Novia was supposed to produce a movie about you some years
back, but the whole thing was enmeshed in controversies. What actually
went wrong
I don’t know. But Charles Novia was slow. He was my friend, but he was too slow. That is it.
While you were away, there had been many speculations concerning your health. What has actually been happening to you
People must talk. But they make you more popular; that is the truth. You
cannot fight the press, you cannot fight the media. They are the ones
that will tell the people what is going on, so I cannot fight the media.
Did you hear some of those things they were saying about you
I heard.
Which of them did you hear
They said I’m crazy, I use cocaine. Well, I still use cocaine. I dey blow my nose, I dey smoke my igbo.
So you still sniff cocaine
Yes, once in a while. I take it when I have money.
What is your take on the Nigerian music industry
I’m very impressed with a lot of those boys. They are doing well.
How do you see the future of the Nigerian music industry
Nigerian music has no problem; it is the politicians that have problems. Our music and movie sectors have no problem.
Who were your contemporaries when you started music
I’m a musician and producer, so I don’t really have contemporaries. Kimono, Evi Edna, Victor Eshiet are my friends.
You started music from an Aladura church somewhere in Anthony Village. How was your talent discovered
My mother introduced me to the church. That’s it.
So who were the people you started playing music with
I played in the church as an instrumentalist.
So how did the breakthrough come? I mean how did the Majek Fashek in the Aladura Church become an international music star
It is God, not me. Olodumare made it possible.
Can you tell us a bit of the story
Yeah, Olodumare… give it to God. He is the one who made me, that’s all.
When was the last time you spoke to your children
I speak to them every week. My first son is named Randy. He is the one
taking care of the younger ones. I always give him instructions to take
care of his brothers and he listens to me. Randy Fashek, that’s his
name. I named my last born Michael because Michael Jackson was my
friend. He invited me to one of his parties in Los Angeles before he
died.
Some years back when you came to Nigeria, you told me that witches were disturbing you…
There are witches everywhere. I love Nigeria and I love my people
because they didn’t disown me. They believe in my message. I’m here to
support my people, so let’s forget about witches.
When the press were reporting all sorts of stuff about you, particularly those that are health related, were you bothered
No, because they were publicising me. Every news is good, whether positive or negative.
Do you sniff cocaine only when you are in America
As I speak to you, I have cocaine in my pocket and in my house. I still dey use am.
For how long have you been using it
The stuff works with the brain, na brain food, so it is very nice.
Cocaine is in my house as I’m talking. I use it when I want to relax my
brain because I’m a higher boss. Michael Jackson used cocaine too but
many people don’t know. He injected himself with it. When you saw
Michael on stage, he was on that sh*t.
For smokers, doctors say they are liable to die young, while for
drinkers, they are advised to drink responsibly. What do doctors tell
people who take cocaine
My brother, how will you play music with a ‘normal eye’? A musician must
not play music with a ‘normal eye’. You can’t be a good musician
playing without being high. Pastors dey dey high too. The truth is that
you can’t be on the human level to give the message. The humans are
looking up to you, so you must be super-human to live up to their
expectations.
Where does your inspiration come from
God. It comes from Olodumare.
Has there been any time doctors warned you about taking cocaine
Yes. They said I shouldn’t drink or smoke. I have been to the rehab,
which was when Bob Marley’s children gave me a contract. Bob Marley’s
children are my friends. Cassandra was a friend to Rita Marley and she
helped me. When I came out of the rehab, there was no money on me.
I had to use babalawo style. I started using juju. In America, when
you put a superstar in the rehab and he is out, they give them back
their contracts. But when I came back from the rehab, they didn’t give
me my contract back; that is why I’m angry. They need me now. America is
missing me now. So instead of wasting my time and energy over there, I
decided to come back to Nigeria.
How did you get the title of the Rainmaker
You see, that is why I said I can’t fight the press. As a wise artiste,
you cannot fight the press. Do you know who gave me that name? The
press. I didn’t give myself that name. In the 90s, the press was good;
they helped, they rescued. But from 2000, it was a different story. But I
won’t blame them because they need to survive; their papers must sell.
On a final note, what message do you have for your fans
They should believe in God and stay alive. Your life is your right. Money or no money, protect your life.
