MAJEK FASHEK "INTERVIEW IN WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK" 1995

AfricaSounds.com

As is the case with many international artists, the American public has not yet fully recognized and supported the significance behind Majek Fashek, Nigeria’s shining solo star of African Reggae. His previous album, Spirit Of Love on Interscope records, significantly pushed the boundaries of Reggae music, bringing the sound full swing back to its roots in Africa. In doing so Majek Fashek defined his mature voice, combining the struggles of urban life with the beats of Reggae, Rock, Afrobeat, Juju, lpangolo, and Olokun rhythms. This melting pot of sound caught many Reggae fans and the music media by surprise, resulting in Majek earning a proclaimed likeness to Marley, Fela Kuti, and Hendrix all in one. Yet as is the sad case of major media corporations, Interscope records treated Majek Fashek as just a phase in their agenda, and shifted their interest instead towards gangster rap to corrupt the youth rather than to enlighten them with spiritual African rock. 

Yet from my recent interview with Majek, on the earth of Manhattan’s Washington Square Park, I realized that these experiences have further combined to allow Majek a more worldly and definitely wiser view on the American music business and of Reggae in general. Every moment with Majek was positive, and the vibe he radiated was intense.  He has his personal agenda under control, and is being patient about securing himself so that next time around his intense music will be promoted fairly and properly. Perhaps only then will his dream to Let Righteousness Cover The Earth be realized. In this interview, Majek
finally breaks the silence and enigma surrounding himself, and sits poised to take on America as only he can. After all, the oracle speaks the truth.


What’s up with Majek Fashek in 1995. Do you have some new things in motion right now?

Yes, I’m working on some new material recordings - I hope to finish this year - and we going to Reggae On The River this weekend.  Yes, it is so important to continue teaching the people. Tell our readers about your song Promised Land. Why are the lyrics important?  Yeah, Promised Land, you remember in Exodus, we’re talking about the promised land - that is when Moses led the children, the Israelites, from the boundaries of Egypt, forty years and forty nights because he was the true believer of God. Now in this age and time, everyone is thinking about going somewhere where they can have freedom and tranquillity. But the promised land that I’m talking about is a state of mind, a consciousness. It’s not just about going to Africa, or America. You, as an entity, are the one who will attain that consciousness through believing in the higher force, listening to your inner self. Because there is not much peace in the world today - the world is problems. All over the world, Europe, Asia, everywhere. So thinking about going to
Africa to escape - to escape from one land to another land, that can not really solve the problem. So one has to condition oneself to achieve that inner peace and tranquillity.

Your recent album, Spirit Of Love, is your most ambitious work so far.  How was it to work with producer Little Steven from the E Street Band?

Little Steven is a very good producer- one of the best producers I ever worked for. Spirit Of Love was deep. Our working together was very spiritual, you know, very spiritual. Little Steven did the lead rock guitar, and brought American rock element to the music. So you have the
Rock, and the Reggae sound, and the African rhythm. And we deal with it very spiritually, its a deep sound, you know. Spirit Of Love just didn’t have enough promotion.

So then how did Interscope Records handle you wrong with that album?

Interscope, they had a good plan, but all the same you had a problem because Little Steven wanted the songs to be released in Europe and in America too. Interscope only release it in America, they didn’t take it to Europe. But I did recently get a copy of it from Nigeria released in Europe as The Best of Majek Fashek. The kind of music on Spirit Of Love was not just reggae music- it was African Rock.

And your band has really changed and expanded its sound over the years.  Is your band still changing now?

You know, it’s evolving. We’re trying to keep it [big and] strong - but it’s a financial problem. Actually the kind of band I really want to have when I have enough top support is gonna have a full blast of sound.  A few more horns would be incredible... and I shall keep the talking drums, and have a tight sound.

And now Majek Fashek is ina New York? Tell us about the reality and illusion of America. Have your views changed since being here?

Yeah, I’m in New York. Living in America is wild, you know. [In the country] is good clean air, you can feel the spirituality, but living in the city is wild. When I walk through the [JFK] airport the first time, and drive in towards the city, you see America. But when in Africa, they always give us a different impression about America - they talk about beautiful America, you know, but they never tell us about the other side.  You come here and discover.

So behind the illusion is the reality. And are we beginning to now enter the Aquarian Age?

Yes, we are entering the Aquarian Age. The Age of consciousness and of water. According to brother Fela Kuti, water has no enemy, it bonds with everything. So water and the Age of Aquarius is going to bind our minds together. Like I see in this park now...African Americans and European Americans together, everybody bond together. Its happening now...its coming! So there’s gonna be peace on earth when Jesus Christ will come and take over the rule of humanity. Yes I believe. Selassie I know.

Could you comment a bit on your personal beliefs...
Well, Religion is politics. No [my belief] is not fusion, I’m talking about consciousness. Christ consciousness. You know, it involve many things, it’s like... Martin Luther King, Selassie I was Christ conscious.  So he think Christ conscious and that is why he is one of the elevated
beings. The elevated souls on the earth...the earth witness. But if humanity now try to segregate their religion politically, and say "My own is the best..." then there’s problems. And that will create more war and more problems.

What about the future of Africa?
I think Africans need support from the International world, like America and Europe. African people have to work hard in achieving their own righteousness. Generally in the world now, money is ruling. Right now is tough times. You see that is why we are talking about Aquarian Age, where money will not rule again. In Aquarian age, importance is your talent as a person, your consciousness, your inner soul... that’s going to rule. You see, money is still going to be there, but the value is not going to be as it is now, the value will depreciate.

Tell us about you Prisoner outfit. I mean you present yourself on stage in a certain way. Sometimes black and in handcuffs, sometimes robed in red. And what about the bell you were ringing at Tramps?

With the breaking of handcuffs, I’m talking about imprisonment of mankind - we have to break the imprisonment. That for every man, man is his best friend and man is his worst enemy. Let’s say higher consciousness is a state of mind, but its gonna take a lot more work to achieve that.
That’s why we have churches and the scripture - you know they are trying their best, too. All the freedom fighters, for it must be achieved. Now about the bell, the bell is a symbol of awakening, so when somebody is sleeping, the bell is rung. You know, Arise from your sleep - awakens the consciousness. And the robe - I normally use red robe, but sometimes I use purple robe. The red robe symbolizes the blood of the prophets.  The blood of the prophets that were crucified for the sake of righteousness.

So if you were to state your purpose now in America...

You see in America, there are so many things that I’m going through... I find myself here, and because there’s so much work to be done here, I [won’t go home] until I get my music released.  Cause you’ve been through so much of the fight, and you’re almost there.

Do you feel it’s right on the horizon?

Yes, of course, my music must be released.   And if they do it right, there is so much power.
Yes, by God’s grace. We’ll try, you know. A company can fuck up, you know. I came to America with all my strong intentions, my good heart, to work with my company. But when I get here -just like that, they [Interscope] give my contract a hold. Up to this time. So I just couldn’t go home. You know I work with Sony Music in Nigeria, but I just couldn’t go home.

Of course not, because you left Africa with the intention-
Yeah, cause I believe my music is good, and so it’s like a mission defeated, you know. So I have this mission, and I’m still on it - by God’s grace -and the music will be released. So I’ll stay here until.  And with Free Mandela, you performed to the masses. And it worked! Yeah, when I performed that song, within about two to three months, Mandela was free. Yeah, I play stadiums in Africa. I play 50,000 sometimes 100,000 people stadiums, big crowds. It’s a good feeling, you know, cause there I came a long way. That’s why I hope someday here, we’re going to have that kind of crowd to play to. So America is good, and what I like about America is in the music here, there’s all kinds of sounds. But because there’s so many sounds, you gotta be somewhat careful that it doesn’t deviate. [Writing a song,] it’s inspirational.  Yeah, you just get it. It comes when you have the right people, and a nice woman, a steady woman - it help a lot. And nice bredren. And you have Jah - Jah is the first.

What about the song Sodom and Gomorrah? Will America ever see it?
It’s released on the British Best Of Majek Fashek. We produced it with Little Steven. Interscope was afraid of the song, you know. It’s too powerful. The guitars are beautiful, and you know the horns...(Majek sings the horn part, joy stricken) Yes, brother.