Entertainment
Late reggae legend Majek Fashek battled alcoholism, lived in denial
A United States-based Nigerian journalist and author, Azuka Jebose, speaks about his latest book on the late reggae superstar, Majek Fashek, and other issues
What inspired you to write the book, ‘Majek Fashek: Before and After The Rain’?
The inspiration to write this book came from the subject, Majek Fashek. My privileged relationship with him traced back to his days at Tabansi Records as an artiste and repertoire manager, alongside him being the lead guitarist and front man for the Jahstix Reggae Band in the 1980s, was a fantastic inspiration (for this book). I needed to capture those magical and complex moments with Majek and the Nigerian music scenes (back) then. I was a young freelance entertainment reporter, mostly a stringer for the PUNCH Entertainment Desk, anchored by my mentor, Ladi Ayodeji. A few years later, I became the entertainment editor of the Saturday Highlife pages and the entertainment editor of The PUNCH.
I thought if I had to write the memoir of one of the most iconic, yet, eccentric and brilliant musicians of my generation, I needed to go deeper into Nigeria’s music scenes before Majek, especially after the Civil War in the early 1970s and through the 1980s. This was the period when Majek manifested as an amazing singer, songwriter, guitarist, and frontman for a unique first Nigerian reggae music band with an engaging band name: Jahstix. So, ‘Majek Fashek Before and After the Rain’ is perhaps one of the few Nigerian books that explored the history of Nigerian music and entertainment scenes after the war.
How would you describe your relationship with the late singer?
My relationship with him was at times complicated and most times fascinating, especially during our early years as we were both struggling to make impacts in our different professions. Majek and I usually met at Tabansi Records back in the days at Oregun and Alausa junction (in Lagos) where many young artistes were waiting to be discovered, and I was nosing for fresh exclusive entertainment news and gossip. We, most times, ended up inside Goddy Tabansi’s (the then director-general of Tabansi Records) office and just sat, jived and listened to new demo tapes he produced for other young aspiring acts then such as Peterside Otong, Charlie Boy, Jide Obi, and Mike Okri, who were also always around us, including Stella Monye.
Felix Lebarty was a widely respected superstar, yet he came around and hung out with us. Some years later, after the release of Majek’s debut album, ‘Prisoner of Conscience’, which featured the monumental single hit, ‘Send Down the Rain’, our relationship soured. I watched his charming character and humanity charred by new success and management. I was a reporter and reported on some of those shenanigans, and my reports and gossip displeased him.
Did you get the consent of Majek’s family before writing a book on him?
No, I did not get the consent of the family. I didn’t need any family consent to write about my privileged experiences with a late iconic reggae music legend. What you will read in ‘Majek Fashek Before and After the Rain’ is a personal cherished experience I had with him. I have every right to write about my experiences with Majek. From his explosive arrival on the music scene to becoming an undisputed king of Nigerian reggae music, Majek’s life was a symphony of highs and lows. Unveiling the untold story of a musical maverick, I delved into the glory days when his resonant voice could heal wounds and mend souls. But beneath the spotlight, a relentless battle raged within him.
This memoir takes an unflinching look at the demons that haunted Majek – his tumultuous struggles with alcoholism and a hidden battle with undiagnosed schizophrenia. He fought not only for his place in the music world but also for his sanity.
In ‘Before and After the Rain’, I walked with Majek through the peaks and valleys of his life, from the euphoria of performing on the world stage, to the dark abyss of self-doubt and addiction. This is an intimate and breathtaking account that pulls no punches, revealing the human behind the legend. I was in the front row of those moments in the United States of America with him. I don’t need anyone’s approval to tell my story.
What do you hope to achieve with this work?
I hope it documents the early history of Nigerian music and also about one of its greatest musicians – Majek Fashek. I would also hope it triggers national conversations regarding mental health diseases such as schizophrenia (a serious mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels and behaves).
Majek had a series of struggles with his health as he was said to be addicted to drugs. In what ways did you help him in this regard?
Majek was an alcoholic. I tried so many times to get him into rehabilitation, but he was always in denial. There is nothing anyone can do to addicts. The only person that can help an addict is the addict (himself). The addict has to recognise that he or she is addicted to drugs and/or alcohol and reach out for help. Otherwise, we are all wasting our time trying to force an unwilling addict into any rehabilitation treatment. Most of my fights with Majek came from my various appeals to him to seek intervention. You will read the most brazen attempt in the book and how he was conned out of it.
Is the book simply for online or is there a plan for the hard copy, and how do you intend to get more readers to buy it?
The book shall be first available as an E-book on Amazon, Kindle and Okada on November 18, 2023. Amazon and Kindle (will) make available hard copy orders too.
Do you intend to give any part of the proceeds from the book to Majek’s family?
No. I do not.
What were the challenges you faced while writing the book and how did you overcome them?
The initial reactions were negative from a few members of his family and friends who think they are entitled to the Majek story. They were scared of the other side of Majek, but his life and challenges were no secrets.
Aside from this work, what are your other works?
I am a storyteller. I have written two fictional books – ‘Waiting for my Husband to Die’ and ‘Victims of the City’.
Can you say something about your family, educational and career trajectory?
I am married. We (my wife and I) are blessed with five girls and a son. My oldest daughter is 29 years old and she is a researcher. I migrated to the USA in 1989 and live in North Carolina, where I manage my business. I have lived here since 1990 and attended the Friday Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the early 1990s.
What are the memorable moments you had with Majek?
Every moment spent with Majek was complexly memorable. He was quite a unique and charming character. I used to call him John the Baptist.
Who were the people who made this book a success?
The people who made this book a success included my niece, Temitope Marcus, who edited the last script of the book and assumed the role of the publisher. She’s responsible for the book’s publication and everything else. She’s been an amazing believer in this project. My secondary school classmate, Dr Nduka Otiono, pushed for this book to be written even while I was being blasted by COVID-19 in 2020. My brother, Uzor Uzoatu; veteran actor, Richard Mofe-Damijo; the awesome Jahstix members – Black O’Rice and Amos McCroy; Emma Ogosi, Laolu Akins and Femi Akintunde-Johnson also contributed to the success of the book.
Source: PUNCH
The widow and children of late Nollywood comic legend, , popularly known as Mr Ibu, have appealed for help as they battle severe financial hardship barely a year after his death.
Speaking in an emotional interview with content creator King Mitchy, the actor’s widow, Stella Maris Okafor, revealed that the family is struggling to survive and is at risk of losing their home due to unpaid rent.
According to her, electricity to their residence has been disconnected for about two months because of unpaid bills, forcing the family to seek places outside their home to charge their phones. She also disclosed that they now fetch water from a community well because they cannot afford to maintain the plumbing facilities in the house.
“We fetch water from the well because I have not paid the house rent. They have even cut my lights for two months now. No lights since. Every night we go to look for a place to charge our phones. It is not easy,” she said.
The situation has also affected the education of the couple’s three children, aged 14, 12 and 10. Stella Maris said the children have been unable to continue their schooling due to outstanding tuition fees.
“Right now, they cannot go to school again. I can even show you the message the school sent me today,” she said while displaying a notice from the school.
One of the children, a 14-year-old daughter who hopes to follow in her father’s footsteps as an actress, appealed to members of the entertainment industry for support.
“I want to thank God for my mum. She tries everything she can to feed us and pay our school fees. If you are in the industry with my dad and you see us now, please come and help us,” she pleaded.
Mr Ibu died on March 2, 2024, at the age of 62 following a prolonged illness that included multiple surgeries and the amputation of one of his legs. His treatment reportedly consumed much of the family’s resources despite public fundraising efforts mounted during his hospitalization.
The family’s current predicament has sparked widespread concern on social media, with many Nigerians calling on colleagues, fans and well-wishers of the late actor to support his widow and children during the difficult period.
Veteran Nollywood actor, Abdulsalam Taofeeq, popularly known as Tioroju Mondusi, has opened up about what he described as the most painful experience of his life, revealing that two of the five children he raised were not biologically his.
The actor made the emotional revelation during a recent appearance on the African A-List podcast, where he spoke candidly about the collapse of his marriage and the events that followed.
According to Mondusi, the betrayal remains the deepest wound he has ever endured, despite having forgiven his late wife.
“The person who hurt me the most in life was my wife,” he said. “The experience brought tears to my eyes. She is late now, and I pray God forgives her.”
Recounting the ordeal, the actor said that about five years ago, he returned from a film location to discover that his wife, who was heavily pregnant with their fifth child, had disappeared. Efforts to contact her were unsuccessful for two days.
When he eventually reached her, she allegedly refused to reveal her whereabouts. Concerned, he visited her mother’s residence, where he was informed that she had reportedly undergone a traditional introduction ceremony with another man.
Mondusi said he later came across photographs from the ceremony and confronted her. According to him, the situation took a dramatic turn when she questioned whether he was truly the father of the child she was carrying.
“She came back home and asked me who told me I owned the pregnancy,” he recalled.
The actor further alleged that after giving birth, his wife insisted that the child’s naming ceremony be held at his residence despite publicly claiming that the baby was not his.
Angered by the development, he said he involved the police and prevented the ceremony from taking place at his compound.
The dispute eventually ended up in court after his wife filed for the dissolution of their marriage. Mondusi claimed it was during the court proceedings that she admitted the newborn child and their third child were fathered by another man.
“She confessed in court that the third and the last child were not mine,” he said, alleging that she had maintained a long-term relationship with the man involved.
The veteran actor also disclosed that his former wife died last year after battling depression. He claimed that the man she left him for later abandoned her and returned to his own family.
The revelation has since generated widespread reactions on social media, with many expressing sympathy for the actor and reflecting on the emotional impact of broken relationships, infidelity and paternity disputes.
Speaking on News Central Television in a video shared on X on Thursday, the Nigeria Democratic Congress, House of Representatives aspirant described the incident as an abuse of power, adding that it raised concerns about citizens’ safety and data protection in the country.
Ike confirmed that he has initiated legal proceedings against Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
“It was shocking. It was so disturbing that I felt unsafe. I felt insecure. For the first time, I’m feeling like, is anybody safe in this country anymore? That kind of feeling, that’s what it was like to me.
He alleged that the incident reflected what he described as political recklessness and abuse of authority.
“It’s an abuse of power. It’s the extreme to radicalism, political radicalism. It’s basically telling Nigerians that we’re in charge, we know you all, (0:52) we’ll do what we want and we can get away with it. That’s very, very irritating and I feel very disturbed by this,” he added.
The actor said his legal team had already written to the parties involved, including Olayinka, INEC, his political party, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police, to formally document the complaint.
His death was confirmed on Tuesday by his colleagues, Funke Akindele, Bolanle Ninalowo, and Godwin Nnadiekwe, who claimed to be his ally.
Sharing on her Instagram story, Akindele wrote, “Hmmmmmm. Rest in peace, Alex. I tried to reach out to see you one more time, but I guess you knew best. May your kind soul rest in peace, Alex. ‘Ore mi like you fondly called me, I will always remember and cherish the good times we shared together. Rest in Peace, Alex.”
Meanwhile, Ninalowo, who is now in the United States, also mourned on his page, writing, “Rest on, Alex. May God heal your family and us all.”
Nnadiekwe, on the other hand, shared, “I’m struggling to find the words. This news has truly broken me. Nollywood has lost a rare soul, and I’m lost for words because this wasn’t the plan, Alex Ekubo. To think you already prepared your Will — It’s heartbroken, I can’t quite describe. Rest well, my friend.”
As of the time of filing this report, his family has not issued a statement on his death.
Recall that fans across social media recently expressed concerns for Ekubo following his first public appearance after months of social media silence.
The light-skinned movie star had been absent from Instagram since December 30, 2024, sparking speculation about his well-being.
However, a recent video that surfaced online brought him back into the spotlight, though it also raised further questions.
In the viral clip, Ekubo was seen interacting with a group of children, appearing noticeably slimmer and subdued.
The footage triggered a wave of emotional reactions from fans, many of whom noted a significant change in his appearance and questioned his wellbeing.
Before his demise, the actor dismissed marriage in favour of his quest to earn more money in the film industry.
In January 2023, his then-lover, Fancy Acholonu, in an interview, revealed that she dated the late actor for five years without them having any intimacy.
The US-based model also called off her wedding to Ekubo in December 2021, after apologising to the film star a year later for calling it off.
Acholonu affirmed her love for the actor, saying that “like our shirt says, Nothing makes sense when we’re apart @alexxekubo you still have my heart.
“I miss you, I love you, and I’m truly sorry for all the hurt & pain you and your family went through with our breakup.”
She noted that her actions were out of character, and she has realised she could have controlled her emotions and not been so overreactive.
However, in a post on his Instagram page, Ekubo implied that he was aware that some people were curious about why he has not yet been married.
The film star said he was more interested in making money. He urged people not to bother about his marital status.
The news of his passing was announced on Tuesday by a fellow actor, Tony Akposheri, in an Instagram post.
Akposheri expressed shock and sadness over the death of the actor, recalling their recent interactions.
He revealed that they had recently spent time together during the New Year, sharing memories and discussing future plans.
“Today, my heart is heavy. Davis Ofor, fondly known as Clarus from New Masquerade, is gone.
“We crossed into the New Year together, laughing, talking, sharing memories, and speaking hopefully about the days ahead,” he wrote.
“We spoke about life, about plans, about how far we had come. None of us knew that time was already counting differently for you.”
Describing the late actor as more than just a screen personality, Akposheri paid tribute to his character and impact.
“It is hard to believe that the voice I heard not long ago is now a memory. Hard to accept that someone so full of life can suddenly become a story we tell.”
He added, “Rest well, my friend. You came, you gave joy, you made your mark, and you will never be forgotten.”
Clarus gained prominence for his role in New Masquerade, one of Nigeria’s most popular television comedy shows, where his character became a household name.
Details surrounding the cause of his death were not immediately available.
Ofor rose to prominence for his role as Clarus in New Masquerade, a widely acclaimed Nigerian television comedy that aired on the Nigerian Television Authority and became a household favourite in the 1980s.
His portrayal of the comic character earned him national recognition and endeared him to audiences across the country, making Clarus one of the most memorable figures in Nigerian television history.
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