Majek
Fashek who can best be described as one of the greatest singers and
guitarists in Nigeria as well as a pioneer who put the country on the
map when it comes to music has been reduced to living on handouts which
he gets from begging strangers on the streets of Lagos and New York.
Eyewitnesses
account stated that Majek was always looking on the ground picking up
papers and dirt while begging for money to fuel his drug and alcohol
addiction.
Born Majekodunmi Fasheke, Majek Fashek, went as far as appearing on David Letterman’s show.
Yet, this super star who reached the heights of fame has crashed so low. A close friend of his, Jebose Azuka, has written a lengthy letter detailing
a painstakingly sad experience which occurred over the years with Majek
and how every attempt to help Fashek has proven futile.
After
his deportation from America, a claim he refuted, Majek Fashek has
spent the last twenty-five years sunk into the abyss of substance
addiction and constant intoxication, a fall which caused him to attend a
rehabilitation center in Abuja last year. Only for him to leave
rehabilitation and still fall lower.
Jebose Azuka recalled an
encounter in the Summer of 2007, where Majek opened a Blues concert for
the late Blues music star, B.B King in New York.
Jebose received a call from Majek, who said, “Jebose, elenwor… my spirit says I must see you. I am in Charlotte, inside GreyHound bus coming to see you”, Jebose said he tried to avoid seeing Majek but the musician was insistent, saying, “Jebose, I am already on the bus. I go reach there by 8 p.m”. Jebose agreed since, “Majek’s “spirit” told him to visit me.”
That
visit ended with Majek being “forced’ to send $600.00 to his wife,
Rita, which was part of the $5000 he was paid for the B.B King show.
Jebose said, “He
resisted, but I wasn’t going to submit: ’ Jebose, don’t sweat me,
mother fucker, don’t sweat me. na because I come visit you?. Don’t sweat
me, men…am a gangsta”. He sent the money, called Rita, ranted on the
phone as I drove him back to his hotel room.
My friend
that I met at the A&R room of Tabansi Records before he became a
superstar in 1985 had multiple personalities. On Sunday, I drove him to
the airport, offered him a ticket to Los Angeles and abandoned him at
the airport baggage check-In counter.”
In 2007, Majek invited
Jebose to a 2Face Idibia tour of the United States after the global
success of African Queen. Tuface was scheduled to perform in Baltimore,
Maryland and Majek Fashek was also scheduled to open for Tu baba.
Jebose recalled, “Majek
invited me to Baltimore from North Carolina. I had not seen him in few
years, even though we talked every day. Ras Kimono warned me of Majek’s
strange look. He prepared me for a rude awakening. Kimono was right. I
was shocked by the appearance of Majek.
He was stressed
and aged, half of his front teeth were gone, his dreadlocks were
malnourished. I was in tears. But I hugged him. I offered an immediate
makeup, at least rejuvenate his dreadlocks. I asked to take him to any
hair salon for a quick dreadlocks make-up before the concert:” Gimme the
money. Don’t worry about the dreadlock.
Inside the
dressing room, Majek smoked profusely, staring at an empty wall as the
light beamed his silhouette across the room walls. He was lonely, alone
and struggled with himself: “I want to see my children” He blurted as he
exhaled.” I want to see my children….I want to see my children”.
His
words faded with each cigarette smoke he blew toward the room ceiling. I
stared at him from behind. He was in his zone: a different world where
no one would understand, having conversations with himself. It was
passionate, painful and pathetic. This was Majek that night. He reached
to the table, picked a glass filled with brandy and emptied the glass in
his mouth.”
Last
year, Warri-based petrol merchant, “Billionaire” Ayiri Emami who was
the mega sponsor for Makek’s publicized rehabilitation withdrew his
gesture after months of doling out dough to treat the reggae superstar.
Ayiri said, “Majek
Fashek is no longer under my care. When he left the rehabilitation home
in Abuja, the doctors said that he needed to relax. They said he should
stay off the music scene for some time. I wanted him to stay in Warri
and relax.
I provided everything that he needed to be
comfortable. But he insisted on going back to music almost immediately.
He kept insisting and, after a while, I had to let him go. That was it.”
When asked why he had severed the relationship with his sponsor, Majek explained incoherently, “ I am an American musician. We do things in certain ways…”
In
April 2015, witnesses who attended a show Majek had been billed to
perform at the Eko hotel, in Lagos described him staggering onto the
stage, oozing of alcohol, and looking dirty and haggard. One said, he
looked homeless and barely made it through his songs.
Jebose concluded sadly,
“Ten months have proven me right. This is not about right or wrong.
This is about cure and care for an alcoholic and an addict. There are
those of us that had sacrificed our professions, family to care for
Majek: Charles Novia, Jimmy King, Jude Away Away, Ras Kimono, Victor
Essiet. Majek is not a one week cure. You do not publicize
rehabilitation.
Majek has spent the better part of the
last 25 years as a junkie and an alcoholic. Its not a few week’s fix at
an openly celebrated rehab. While he was in rehab, his enablers were
busy seeking concert deals for him:” when Majek comes out, he would be
performing again”.
They took an addict to a familiar
place that enabled relapse. He was everywhere while in rehab. These
behaviors enhanced and redirected him because none of those seemed to
understand his struggles, his pains, his problems. Majek is the only
person that understands this: They forced him to a rehab when he was not
ready. You guys wanted to use him, front him to make quick money.
There
were no programs or steps designed for his recovery. Everything was
designed to reposition his music career. Majek stopped being musician
years ago. He traded music for addiction. I wait for his obituary, some
day. Those around him today had abused and used him.”
Read full article here, jeboseboulevard.com
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