Majek Fashek, a national tragedy

On my way to work this morning (Friday), I spotted a loony figure. Pants sagged, dirty black underwear showing, a caftan perched precariously on his extra lean shoulders, shock of long unkempt dreadlocks cascading down his head and teeth yellowed by years of hard living and a face still surprisingly handsome despite the ravages of illicit living.

This was Majek, my hero, the one who brought down the rain. He it was who redefined Reggae and in that one album forced us to look deep into our consciousness, calling us prisoners of conscience. He it was who took that Bob Marley piece, Redemption Song into the sublime. He infused it with his pangolo rhythm and turned it into an anthem of social and spiritual awakening. Majek was a god, strong Adonis like looks, talent yet to me replicated in our clime and charisma of the gods.

This same Majek, I just saw like that in Fadeyi, begging for Ogogoro becuase he did not have 100 Naira to pay for it. I stopped brought out 1,000 Naira and was immediately struck by confusion. Should I give him this money and contribute to his death or should I refuse him and watch him throw a tantrum like a disposed toddler. He saved me the dilemma as he grabbed the money from me and rushed to the ugly, black dirty merchant of death, who gleefully poured him a glass full.

Majek downed the drink and hugged me like I had just saved him from the hang mans noose. I looked deep into his eyes and saw a lost soul. He was actually begging for help, the demon inside of him peered at me from his once very beautiful eyes, daring me to do my worse. Assuring me that he had no intention of leaving this host until it finished it’s dreadful task of killing him ever so slowly.

He called me a fine boy and wished he was as good looking as I was, I laughed. A laugh that was more of pity, a laugh that was laced with internal cry of pain. A pain that cascaded through every pain in my body. If only I had one tenth of this talent, I would be far from fadeyi begging for N100 worth of ogogoro.

Did we fail him as Nigerians, did we put an umbrella over the Rainmaker, did the flood of his talent wash away his life, what can be done, do we continue watch him make a mockery of a Life once blessed?

Majek in his destitution represents Nigeria. Blessed with more than enough resources., rich in human capacity, more fertile land than the whole of Asia and filled with gifted and talented people, but yet beggerly and poor. Daily our leaders go to ‘jibowu’ to beg poorer countries for aid, for debt forgiveness. The contradiction never leaves me. Japan with no known Natural resources is so developed that we can only look in shame.

Majek with all the talents of a thousand people, begging the woman who can’t lift a finger beside him for N100, Majek being laughed at by miscreants and being mocked with so much joy by those who were not half as blessed by God.

What can I do, but to write this piece and just walk away, lest his guest demon attempt a move on my life. I saw it and felt it look into my soul and with one withered hand, offered me a shot of the Devils brew. A shot I knew would throw me into the darkest pits of Majeks torture, a shot that will take me spiraling down the tunnels of oblivion, destroying the innocent dependent lives of my children while giving Majek solace that he has finally found a room mate albeit a very reluctant and scared one.

I pray for you sir.  I pray God gives you peace.

God bless you Majek.


Joseph Edgar is an investment banker who writes as a hobby. He writes from a humorous, satirical point of view. He blogs at josephedgarng.blogspot.com

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

Comments (10)

  1. One man I respect a lot, when it comes to music.. He was a legend from 9ja.and dis great name will remain in our heart home and away.. Pls government pls . do something for legend fashek.

  2. My heart bled as I read this sad story of Majer who said I should ‘Never Cry’. I will pray for him today.

  3. Enter your comment here…is only prayer to ALLAH dat can help as at dis time,those dat go to church pray him,mosque pray him,friends pray him,good Nigerians pray him dis is de answers to his problem”PRAYERS”

  4. Someone should call the attention of the governor of Edo state to his situation. Just as Bola Tinubu delivered the late Pa Fatai rolling dollar from poverty, Oshomole should save his fellow brother who is an indigene Edo state. Christian organisations should also reach out to him, he needs more than just physical or material help.

  5. Dear All, please am praying God that our beloved Majek can be rescued.its about his inability to manage his wealth that is the issue at stake. WHAT ABOUT HIS PRECIUOS SOUL???????? Please am appealling to preachers, evangelist and concerned nigerian churches to save this soul for Gods sake instead of just allowing himself to dance to hell with ogogoro an poverty????????? Please lets help this man,,,,,Am shocked that friends and family memebers are just looking onnnnnnnnnnnnn?

  6. Jesus is the only jesus is the solution

  7. God will not allow us to waste our prime time. My advice for Majek is to give his life to Jesus. There may still be light at the end of his tunnel.

  8. Well lekan I agreed with u anyway,I have my guys who r so close to majek,we run a studio together@that same jibowu and majek has visit like once or twice,the discription of him above was just on point and could even b worse.u see aside that this my guys and majek were in d state together(usa)and infact,they laments how disgraceful majek acts over there.they were d ones that advice him to come back home(naija)and rgt here is what remains of him.but I was told majek still have some cash deposited in some banks but prefer to beg on d street for ogogoro.its so patheticand I pray someone should come to his rescue soon,its indeed a national disgrac,but mafekodunmi fashakin will always be a LEGEND of our time anytime anyday.pls don’t let it be until dis guy died that d government,media,ceos and d international bodies will now celebrates him,its better if we can save him now while there’s remedies.

  9. A pity Majek could not manage his wealth and fame. PMAN still have plenty of work to do in terms of pension benefits and investment advisory services to artistes

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