Majek Fashek: And A Great Oak Fell
2020 has been a devil of a year. The events of this year have hurt every living thing – starting with fires in our forests, to pollution in our waters, too painful, lonely deaths as a result of an incurable virus, to bloody rape, and culminating in barbaric and racist murders because of #iCantBreathe.
It is perhaps tragically fitting that Majek Fashek, Nigerian singer-songwriter, and musical activist, should take his last bow in this most controversial of years, passing in his sleep in New York after being ill for some time.
With an illustrious career that spanned three decades and saw him collaborating with artists such as Jimmy Cliff, Tracy Chapman, and Snoop Dogg, the reggae legend was unapologetic about his political stand, creating protest songs that made his views clear right from his debut album ‘Prisoner of Conscience.’
He clamoured for freedom from injustice and oppression, with every single song bearing a message of agitation and struggle. He called for the release of our father, Madiba, in his song, ‘Free Africa, Free Mandela’. He talks about action and consequence in perhaps his best-known song, ‘Send Down The Rain’:
Everything in life has got its time and season
So you don’t have to ask me why
You don’t expect to sow cassava
And reap up cocoyam
You don’t expect to sow rice
An.d reap up cassava
Whatever a man sows in this world
They must surely reap
Coz I’m a living man
Got a lot of work to do
But today, the 2nd of June, 2020, the words we remember are the words that fit into the tempo of this time:
They say you are black; they say you are brown
They say dem white; they say you are brown
But only the Angels of God is white
But only the Angels of God is white
So long, so long
We’ve been sitting down for so oooo long
We’ve been fooling round for too oooo long
Ar.ise from your sleep, Africa
Arise from your sleep, America
There’s work to be done, Africa
There’s work to be done, America
If we unite, we will be free so long, for too long
- So Long (Spirit of Love, 1991)
They still have their knees on our necks, Brother Majek.
We are still here, screaming “I can’t breathe.”
But we remember you today, and we promise you that we heard every single word you sang. We rejoice in your life, we celebrate your wisdom, and we promise you that we are awaking from our slumber and will be free.
So long, Rainmaker. You will be missed.
Lastly, stay up to date with all you need to know about African music at SOA, right here.
Majek Fashek: And A Great Oak Fell
