What's Hot?
Tems Wins First-ever Grammy, As Burna Boy Loses...
Court Orders Oxlade To Pay ₦5m Indemnity Over...
Artists gearing up for the Harlem fine arts...
International tourist arrivals doubled in 2022: UN
Amoako Boafo’s Launch of Ghana Residency Was a...
Morocco: National Finery Museum Reopens to Critical Aclaim
Five years after, Lagos Inaugurates Randle Centre for...
The future of global music is African
CAA Signs ‘Heroes’ Actor Jimmy Jean-Louis
Philly filmmaker Walé Oyéjidé captures the beauty of...
The Culture Newspaper
  • Home
  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
    • Culture Africana
    • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Music, Movies & More
  • News
    • Travel News
  • Opinion
    • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality
Opinion

The Majek I encountered in America

by Ahmed Yerima June 3, 2020
by Ahmed Yerima June 3, 2020

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.

0
FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Ahmed Yerima

, a playwright and professor of Dramatic Arts, is a former DG of National Troupe of Nigeria

previous post
Majek Fashek: Reflections before and after the rain
next post
#BlackLivesMatter: African Authors Sans Frontieres Show Solidarity With African-Americans

You may also like

A legend at 60: Celebrating Jahman Oladejo Anikulapo.legend...

January 16, 2023

Deity Among Scholars: Celebrating Prof. Toyin Falola @...

January 7, 2023

Sammy Okposo: Remembering Celebrity Gospeller Of Note

November 30, 2022

Biyi Bandele Who Came In From The Back...

August 22, 2022

Kizz Daniel, Stars’ Buga And The Curse Of...

August 15, 2022

The Perils of Audience Capture

August 8, 2022

Netflix is eating Nollywood’s lunch. What happens next?

August 4, 2022

Portable’s Disqualification Biased, Dangerous Precedent – Joey Akan

July 27, 2022

The Woman King: Resetting The African Mentality

July 24, 2022

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞? 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐲𝐚’𝐬 ‘𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲’...

July 12, 2022

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

  • Tems Wins First-ever Grammy, As Burna Boy Loses In Two Categories
  • Court Orders Oxlade To Pay ₦5m Indemnity Over Leaked Sex Tape
  • Artists gearing up for the Harlem fine arts show 15th anniversary
  • International tourist arrivals doubled in 2022: UN
  • Amoako Boafo’s Launch of Ghana Residency Was a Reminder of the Country’s Growing Arts Scene

Sponsored

Recent Posts

  • Tems Wins First-ever Grammy, As Burna Boy Loses In Two Categories

    February 6, 2023
  • Court Orders Oxlade To Pay ₦5m Indemnity Over Leaked Sex Tape

    February 3, 2023
  • Artists gearing up for the Harlem fine arts show 15th anniversary

    February 3, 2023

Categories

  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
  • Culture Africana
  • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Music, Movies & More
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Photo News
  • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Interview
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality
  • Travel News
  • Travel Trends
  • Travelogue
  • What's Hot?
  • World Culture

Connect with us

Connect with us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

@2019 - The Culture Newspaper. All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Zero-One

The Culture Newspaper
  • Home
  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
    • Culture Africana
    • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Music, Movies & More
  • News
    • Travel News
  • Opinion
    • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality