I remember him well. It was in the 1990s in Harlem, New York, USA. I brought the National Troupe to perform with Tony Abulus Black Ebony Company. Just before we started the show, l was told Majek Fasek was around.
My atistes were flustered. I was excited too. But l did not know that he had come to take one of my drummers away.
When someone let the cat out of the bag, l went to see, him in the auditoriun. But as l stepped out of the back stage, he was there. We hugged. He called me Uncle, and that calmed me down. But he could not look me straight in the eyes. Then l made a joke and he laughed, his eyes fell on mine and l knew it was only a matter of time, and they will bring him home.
America had put him on a steady cocktail program for all great artistes – booze, women and drugs. They dope them so they can walk away with their money.
They leave them high all the time and dump them in the allay to die.
Not long after, the our handsome brilliant musician was home… to come and die.
But it was in Trinidad that l found another reason why Majek had to leave America. Bob Marley was a legend, and although our Majek was doing well, West Indians were not going let one African wear his shoes. So gradually, the gigs kept dwinding, the drugs kept flowing and he was soon finished.
I think his greatest legacy is for the young impressionistic Nigerian artistes who just want to blow to learn from his mistakes.
Read about David Ruffin, Jimi Hendrix and Peter Tosh.
I cry for him.
Because he was a genius we did not allow to mature slowly. Now he is gone with all that talent.
Rest in perfect peace brother. You need a long sleep now.