Breaking A Mystic Vow My Undoing – Majek Fashek
By: Samuel Abulude on September 14, 2013 - 2:44am
What of your new work I don’t want to die in Babylon?
It is coming out in October by God’s grace. Gangsta Rasta is the album title and it is a new age of sound for young people. It has about 10 tracks. We are doing a launching in October before it officially enters the market.
Which of the contemporary artistes would you like to work with?
I will like to work with Wizkid because he is very talented. I love him. Also Tu Face, Faze are also artistes that I’ll like to work with. I really have young artistes that I want to work with but the problem is that it takes time to record with them. The younger artistes can remix my album. One boy don carry Send Down The Rain waka, I did not sue him.
Can you shed more light on the report that you gave your life to Christ in a Lagos Church?
Yeah, I believe in Jesus Christ. I like the pastor; he’s a good man, Prophet Abiola Adebisi. He’s not a pastor that deceives people. I’m very happy with the pastor. He’s a good pastor. That’s why I joined the church.
So is there a change now that you’ve given your life to Christ?
No, I didn’t give my life to Christ. I believe in God.
But …
Listen to me, all those philosophies of Christ or religion is a state of mind. According to Marcus Garvey, every man or mind is a religion unto himself. Yea, so you are a religion. I just like the man because he’s not deceiving his flock.
A lot of people believe that your present condition is not unconnected with drug addiction?
I don’t use drugs. I only have spiritual problem and God is helping me to solve it. Jesus is good. I don’t know how the spiritual problem began; all I know is that Jesus is helping me to deal with it.
Your cousin, Amos Mcroy, once disclosed that you told him that you broke an oath and that is why you are having this problem?
What oath? I told you, no man is perfect. As long as you commit sin and you pray to God for forgiveness, God will forgive you. And that is why God is merciful.
Some people say it’s not a coincidence that rain falls anytime you sing Send down the Rain
No oh, it’s not me that made a covenant. Before I brought out that Send Down the rain, I prayed to God and I fasted. I fasted for many times and God gave me the song. So, I give the glory to God, It’s not me. I cannot bring rain to fall now but God blesses me with the rain. I don’t know whether it’s a coincidence that rain falls when I sing my song but God brings the rain.
You sang Send Down the Rain at COSON Awards and it rained…
I’m a prophet of God. Every prophet must have a symbolic sign. So, I’m truly a prophet, that’s my sign.
Can you tell us more about your belief?
I believe in God period. I just believe in God.
You met mystics abroad and could this have been the problem?
Yes, I met many mystic men in US. I met Indian mystics, Chinese mystics, American mystics, Japanese mystics. I met a lot of mystics there. You know in the mystical world, you have to keep the rules. When you make a vow, you have to keep the vow. You don’t break a vow. And that is what affected me really. I broke some vows.
But there has to be a solution?
That is why I am telling you, I am not dead. Jesus Christ is helping me. What solution do you want me to bring? Jesus Christ has helped me to break the vow.
What is your state financially?
Nigerian artistes are suffering. All the artistes you see, it’s all about hype because they don’t get royalties. I get royalties every month from my radio play in America. The amount varies and builds up every month, that’s why I survive. But Nigerian musicians don’t get royalties. Nigerian musicians get Alaba and after they spend the money on Ashawo (meaning prostitutes), he don finish (general laughter). So Charles Novia who’s shooting my movie has to see my management A Plus if he wants us to forgive him. You can’t do anything without contact. He has to come with a contract and talk to Hajia Dangaji and we’ll scrutinise the contract talking about the percentage and then I need to have access to the scripts so that it will not affect the young generation.
People see you as the African Bob Marley, how do you intend to sustain this?
I still have a lot of work to do that is why I came to Nigeria. Home is always home. Like in America, there is too much police. There is too much confusion. Our people are very good. I came back to consolidate.
Your prophetic song, Fire Fire Fire All over Africa, does it have to do with the Arab spring revolution?
There is no fire in Africa. The song meant fire to the oppressors, fire to wicked people, fire to those who oppress the poor ones. They will die. Fire will burn them down.
How do you see the growth in the Nigeria music industry?
I am very impressed with the growth in the music industry since I came back. I lived in the United States for about 20 years. When I came in the 90s, the industry was not improving. I was not very happy. There was gasoline problem and people started buying fuel from the black market. Obasanjo tried on that level. Obasanjo is my uncle but because of Fela, I don’t relate with him. I started relating with Fela. Fela is my leader. Now there is no queue and the problem has been solved. So the music industry is improving and that’s why younger artistes are thriving.
Is reggae music in Nigeria waning or on the rise?
As long as I’m here, Reggae music cannot go down. Rasta music is back. I love my fans, I love Nigerians. They are good people. God bless them. One Love!
