Title: Promise Kept: My Friend Majek Fashek and I
Author: Richie Adewusi
Publishers: Nostalgia Media
Year: 2025
For venturing boldly off the beaten track – all in a bid to shed fresh light on Majek Fashek’s essence – Richie Adewusi’s latest book, Promise Kept: My Friend Majek Fashek and I, easily deserves the diadem as a standout among the few books on the enigmatic musician.
Indeed, the fact that the author intertwines his own story with that of the late dreadlocks-sporting artiste adds a special flavour to the narrative. Through this poignant account of his friendship with Majek Fashek, he takes his readers through an odyssey through the complexities of human nature, revealing the darker aspects that often lurk beneath the surface.
This two-volume book, suffused with photographs, is a captivating read that begins with the first chapter on the author’s first meeting with Fashek in 1987 at his Just It! Magazine office in Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos. The encounter sparked a lasting impression of Majek’s charisma, which electrified those around him. As their collaboration grew, so did their bond, marked by pivotal moments like the University of Lagos concert.
Talking about that University of Lagos concert, it was a masterclass in chaos, a symphony of mishaps that left readers wondering how the show would ever go on. Enter Mambo Stix, Majek’s drummer, who traded his sticks for a plate of his wife’s irresistible home cooking, rather embarking on a 20-kilometre odyssey through rush-hour traffic, where the demons of Lagos roads held court. It seemed the allure of a home-cooked meal trumped the call of duty – a decision that would soon have the students singing a different tune and demanding refunds and sparking a chaotic stampede. Even Majek’s taking the drums himself didn’t mitigate the damage that was done, which translated to significant financial losses for the organisers.
Embracing the spotlight often reveals a complex web of relationships, and the Adewusi-Fashek duo was no exception. Richie Adewusi was drawn to Majek Fashek’s genius – his sharp intellect, raw talent, and openness to innovative ideas. As Fashek’s publicist, Adewusi embarked on a journey to manage the star’s image. However, their collaboration wasn’t without its hiccups. Initially, Fashek tested boundaries, but Adewusi held his ground, aware that the musician was the mastermind behind his own destiny.
As their partnership unfolded, Fashek’s vision for a new band, The Prisoner of Conscience Band, began to take shape, building on the momentum he had gained as a solo artist with Tabansi Records. With friends from Jah Stix on board, the project seemed promising, but underlying tensions about roles within the group hinted at future challenges.
This new chapter in his career was sparked by a conversation with Tony Benson, which had set him on the path to solo stardom. The MAMSER concerts, a brainchild of the military regime, where he headlined many shows and shared his take on social justice and economic recovery through music, further solidified his direction. As he navigated the music scene, his experiences and the people around him influenced his sound, shaping the Prisoner of Conscience Band’s identity.
Meanwhile, the author – his manager and friend – was navigating the harsh realities of the industry, particularly after the ill-fated Surprise ’89 extravaganza. Burnout and egged on by a desire for family life, he planned his exit, but Majek Fashek wasn’t ready to let go, pleading with him to stay on as publicist and fan club manager. Undeterred, he channelled his energy into a new venture: the Youthaid Festival.
In the swirling vortex of Nigeria’s music scene, Adewusi’s role as Majek’s publicist morphed from mere profession to a symbiotic bond, forged in the fire of creative highs and soul-crushing lows. This odyssey of artistic expression and personal growth ultimately gave birth to Changeville, by itself, chronicles the transformative power of experience.
Beneath the surface of their disparate journeys, a profound connection emerges – a universal human narrative of struggle, resilience, and the unyielding pursuit of greatness. Adewusi’s narrative is a powerful ode to the human spirit, an affirmation of its capacity to transcend adversity and emerge transformed. Meanwhile, Fashek’s journey is a haunting, elegiac tale of self-discovery, a poignant reminder that wisdom earned through hardship can be both a blessing and a curse, even when the cost is one’s own survival.
