"That Good Ol' Reggae Sunsplash... Can we have MAJEK FASHEK Back PLEASE!!"

  I always love visiting Paris. The beautiful city can be captivating. It tends to remind me of a european version of New York. I walked the familiar streets dragging behind me my stroller in the brisk winter wind. After walking up an appetite, I settled in for an awesome lunch at the small, family owned restaurant "Le Siecle" just off the Champs Elysees. Looking out the window, at people trying to escape the cold, and enjoying my second after lunch beer,  I lose track of time and suddenly realize I have to make a mad dash for the Charles De Gauille airport or I will miss my flight back to New York City.

Everything from here sweats and on fast-forward. And luckily, as I finally settle into my seat, and the plane takes off, I prep my ipod to play as soon as the the pilot turns of the seat-belt light and says electronics can now be used.

As I lower my seat, close my eyes, and press play on the ipod, the opening chords of thumping bass transport to a great musical time.

"When will the African People UNITE??

When will the AFRICAN people come together??

Europeans... Americans getting stronger everyday

And there's DISUNITY amongst the African People"

Forget the conscious lyrics that speak directly to your soul, the groove in this piece is on a richter scale of AWESOME!!! All you want to do is dance. Not some random dance recently made popular by today's music videos and the kids. Not the azonto, not the Etighi. It's that consious reggae dance! You know the one with your eyes closed in reflection, one finger pointing to 'JAH' in the sky, as you do the two-step, hop skip, pointing one heel forward then bringing it back.... THAT KIND OF GROOVE!!

It is unfortunate that the messenger bearing this steady groove is no more. When I say "no more" I don't mean dead; at least not physically. I mean his essence has gone to dust... or maybe just buried. That EXTREMELY good looking vessel of pure, unadulterated reggae music is simply a shell of his former self. With a steadily decline into the dark world of hard-drugs, the Nigerian born living legend "MAJEK FASHEK" is barely recognizable.





"When will the Jews and the Moslems unite??
When will the Christians and the Moslems come together??
There's DISunity among the people everyDAY... Fussing and Fighting.
There's disunity amongst the JAH JAH PEOPLE!!"

THIS. MAN. HAD. A. MESSAGE!!! A STRONG message for Africa!! And not delivered like a bitter pill you're trying to swallow. NO!! Majek Fashek's music is wrapped up in a beautiful, fluffy bow of "SPIRITUAL AMAZING!!". His effortless ability to create catchy melodies and chants is ridiculous... And in a good way!! This man was highly spiritual, and with every lyric sung, he PREACHED!!!

Majek Fashek had every opportunity to be revered as the best that ever did it. I mean, to eventually be put on the same platform as FELA, Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix, all known to be his influences. And I say that without a stutter or fingers crossed behind my back. His sound is AUTHENTIC, his message SOUND, his musicality is only of one that TRULLY understands music.

This post is particularly sad for me as I had the chance to meet this man. This strikingly BEAUTIFUL man! This musical genius!!! I can't remember too much detail, but I was about 8 or 9 years old. Then I was in a primary school called, Corona School Gbagada (big shoutout btw) and there was a studio opposite the school and you would hear music filtering into the air, if you happened to be at the field at the right time. 

On this fateful day, my parents failed to pick me up early from school. As naughty children would when your caretaker nurse has fallen asleep with drool oozing down the side of her mouth, blotching up her faded cream blouse, a few of us steal out of the grounds to buy ice-cream, biscuits or some other contraband from a street hawker. This lands us SMACK BOOM in front of this studio in Gbagada and I see this good-looking man dressed in leather pants (Yea Kanye... Majek rocked sh*t that first!!) a black jacket and hat standing in front of the studio talking to another man. I recognized him... I had seen him on TV. He had this hit video called "Send Down The Rain" getting major play on television. I also remembered his fantastic rendition of "Redemption Song". Like a moth to the flame, I cross the small street over to his side and as he notices this little imp-sized girl walking towards him he gives me a big, gorgeous smile. "I know you!!" I said. WOW... Memories. I can't remember the details of our conversation, except it was warm, brief, and he sent me off with a white business card to give my parents.

I held and stroked this business card, and when the time came to give the now rumbled card to my dad, my excitement totally diminished the fear of having to explain how I got it.

My father amused asked how I got it. I vaguely remember lying that Majek Fashek crossed over and spoke to us through the see-through fence on the field. But that wasn't important, I needed my father to help pronounce a word on the card. It was just under his name and before his set of numbers. I had never come across it before. It was "Conscience"... The sentence was "Prisoner of Conscience". And as I stared harder at the card, my father explained to me what it meant. I was hooked!!!

"Shaaaa YO! SHA-NA-NA SHA-NA-NA DOWWW

NATTY NATTY BONGOOOO

SHA-NA-NA SHA-NA-NA DOWWW"

The scat singing of the chorus makes no sense, but at the same time does. You know what I mean?!! They might not be actual words but they embody so much soul that you kind of understand what he is trying to say. And when the music breaks down around the 2:31second mark for just over 10 seconds with intense bass play, nothing else matters. It's just JOY!!

Mr. Fashek UNDERSTANDS music. He delivers it in several layers of instruments. It's robust. Like a big, hearty, juicy steak dinner. Every stroke of the guitar, blow of the horns, or hit of the drum is deliberate. The each can exist on their own but prefer to merge together as one to create musical heaven. The only Nigerian artiste right now who's musicality 'sort of' reminds me of this level of excellence is SOUND SULTAN.

I remember the pride I had when his song "Majek Fashek Inna New York" played during the "Making of..." documentary, of Spike Lee's new film at the time, "MALCOM X". This was on MTV. Not MTV as we know now, concentrated with what they call "Afro-pop" music. It was MTV that time in 1992/1993 when they barely knew Africa made music. THIS was a big deal. The song, heavily packed with catchy african drums and of course the sweet melody he is known for, speaks of his first time visiting New York.

*speaking* "The first time I came to New York?? I used to think New York was like heaven on earth.

And I was surprised to see beggars on the streets of New York.

Homeless people on the streets of New York.

And I wrote a song I call  *sings*  Majek Fashek Inna NeeeewW YORK YORK YORK YORK!!"

New York, where he eventually spent numerous years, was not kind to him. I think the city further nursed his drug addictions, or worse still, maybe introduced him to it.

"We are humble!! (return chant)

We are humble!! (return chant)

Me no want no trouble (return chant)

If you want my trouble!! (return chant)

If you want my TROUBLE?? (return chant)

I'll give it to you DOUBLE!! (return chant)"

Then Imma give it to you DOUBLE!! (return chant)

This man is a musical god!!!!! Or should I exchange "is" for was"??? I don't know. But what cannot be taken away from him is his undeniable contribution to both Nigerian and International music. I just hope it is enough for the critics to one day put him up there with his idols. . . maybe?? I don't know. 

Just click below and reminisce.  I wish I tempted to tag below all my favourite songs of his but I'll try narrow them down to just a few. And if I am just introducing you to this incredible man's music, Welcome!! You have missed some REALLY good music. :) His albums:  LITTLE PATIENCE, RAINMAKER and I & I EXPERIENCE are now on iTunes. Travel over there and buy them... I just did!! :)

p.s. I've have also added at the end my favourite song from SOUND SULTAN who I mentioned in this post. The song is not in English, but it has soul and it's great music. Hopefully you can share my thin comparison between both muscians. They both UNDERSTAND music!!

                                                     MAJEK - AFRICAN UNITY

Majek Fashek - AFRICAN UNITY (LIVE)

Majek Fashek - MAJEK FASHEK INNA NEW YORK

MAJEK FASHEK - MAJEK FASHEK IN A NEW YORK .mp3

Found at bee mp3 search engine

Majek Fashek - So Long

Majek Fashek - Kpangolo

Majek Fashek - KPANGOLO

And try this guy on for size SOUND SULTAN - HELLO BAALE