EXCLUSIVE: VICTOR ESSIET OF MANDATORS SPEAK FROM CALIFORNIA!
“Nigerian Soldiers destroyed my Life”
*Says 2015 Election to determine the future of Nigeria
*His father, sister, uncle killed * How Bob Marley’s agent got him Reggae Record Label in United States *His last show with Ras Kimono in New York * Celebrates his International Reggae World Music Award in America *Why Nigerian musicians drive Cab Abroad * Revealed: ‘Majek Fashek sheltered in a house without light…handlers use his name to make money from Governments’ *Confesses: ‘There is nothing wrong in smoking weed (Marijuana or Ganja)’ *His latest work ‘Freedom Train’ making waves in North America & Canada
*His Words: “I don’t smoke weed, but I will like to smoke it because it is good. Weed is better than beer, better than brandy, better than Cocaine; better than junk. Some people are just stupid and wicked for turning Nigeria into their private estates without thinking of the people they are oppressing on a daily basis”
VICTOR Essiet of Mandators’ fame is a very famous musician in Los Angeles, California where lots of Hollywood actors and actresses are resident. His latest music titled ‘Freedom Train’ which preaches ‘liberation, freedom from oppressive governments worldwide have been attracting positive comments and commendations by several American music critiques who believes that the message of Essiet is meant to checkmate abusive, bad, corrupt and inept leaders wherever they are in the world. He spoke with our hardworking EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/GEORGE ELIJAH OTUMU on sundry issues relating to his career, most trying moment in life, latest music effort and how he perceives Marijuana, otherwise called ‘Ganja or Weed’ in local parlance. Enjoy…
You had a concert recently that attracted a lot of crowd in California. Could you tell us more about this show?
Of course I would say you are right by your explanation. The successful concert was called ‘Africa Meet Reggae/Freedom Train Tour’ and that was because it was reggae music being preached by the Jamaicans out there for Africans in the Diaspora. The concert touched on the root of Africa, revealing high consciousness, advocating freedom for the oppressed. ‘Freedom Train’ talks about reggae music because the music has survived oppressive governments, frustrating administrations. The music reveals the secrets behind those governments that take pleasure in oppressing the people not willing for the people to know the truth. I can tell you that reggae music will continue to grow bigger and bigger; until it finds its own right people in the ‘movement for freedom.’ The music is a ‘movement, a total emancipation’ of the oppressed people wherever they are in the world. This song gives people the total consciousness and understanding of their rights and power. While this music is very vital, the timing is also important for people to meditate enough and know their rights.
Why titled your music video ‘Freedom Train’? What do you want to achieve by that?
This is a new dawn so check it out. Things will never be the same again .We are in bondage and we have to collectively break the chains we have the power to totally emancipate ourselves as a people but simply because our minds are in captivity and the people are divided; that is why we think that somebody would have to free us from all the calamity that is plaguing humanity. But I am saying to each and every one living a life today that we are the new and we are the changed. We should stop looking without but look within. We can make a change for once. So, get up and join the freedom train that is what the song is all about.
In 2015 Elections, Nigerian people need ‘Freedom Train’ to free them from enslavement. What do you think?
For every oppressive society, outside Nigeria that we live-there is need for the total emancipation that we all need. You have got the right to think for yourself. Just imagine some leaders supported by the youths to bring about transformation ‘exploiting that nation.’ And then, you are now having difficulty supporting another candidate because of your conscience that is judging you for casting your vote wrongly. Nigeria is a country to me born to be great like America, but because of tribalism, nepotism, favoritism; corruption and unscrupulousness, the nation has refused to be free or move forward. Some people are just stupid and wicked for turning the country into their private estates without thinking of the people they are oppressing on a daily basis. 2015 is the election that would determine the future of the country. I have been on the radio, television, newspaper interviews in America. In 2015, if Nigerians make mistake in electing a bad leader; all of us would become so worried. I forgive the (electorates) people that are naïve who cast their votes anyhow due to hunger. We are all scared for 2015 elections. Nigeria needs leaders who are spiritual, knowledgeable, truthful and active to free herself from oppression.
When is the highpoint of your music career?
Lots of great moments I would say. But when I won International Reggae World Music Award in America, I knew my honor in the foreign global music circle has come. That is the eyes in which I am being looked by Americans, Africans and Latinos in United States. I don’t cherish all those high rises buildings; all I got is the Almighty Jah, good music, good life and ever happy moments. My music has taken over in Los Angeles.
How true is it that some Nigerian musicians are into Cab-driving here in United States?
Musically it is very tough in America if an artist is not up to the task. Such moment that person would have no option.
When last have you seen Majek Fashek?
It is been a long time. I spoke to him few weeks before I left for Nigeria for my media tour. Majek complained to me that he is sheltered in a house that there is no light and things are not okay for him. He said the people are using his name to go around government establishments to collect money, but not doing anything for him. As such, I was looking forward to seen him to further help him. When Majek was in California here, he was quite different and when he returned to Nigeria his life took a different turn. Initially he was into drugs; some of his friends here helped him. But we needed to ensure his health was stable, not waiting, he traveled to Nigeria. I used to talk to Majek from America through his handlers’ phone number. When I got to Nigeria, they prevented me from seeing Majek because the line was cut off.
We heard that Majek was taken to Psychiatric Hospital and Spiritual Homes for health recovery in Nigeria. What is your view?
Well, I do not have any information on that. Like I said the only contact I used to have on Majek was through his handlers, but the line had been tossed off by them (the handlers).
How about the lowest moments in your life?
That was when Nigerians soldiers killed my family. It was during the Biafra period while I was 5 years old at that time; Nigerian soldiers entered my father’s compound and killed every members of my family. They killed some of my Uncles. One of my Uncles was killed and thrown into the well. So, they destroyed my life. That is why when you listen to all my songs, I preach against oppression. Lots of people suffered in that war and many generations were wasted. Somebody had to tell someone else that you cannot just treat people like that because we the South-South region then had all the resources. That war was because the people of the South-South, the Eastern part of the country never benefited from the resources the country had, whereas some other regions are presently benefiting from the resources. The East did not get anything from the resources, but dominated by other people. Somebody had to get up and put an end to it. That is why the country is in this present circumstance. These soldiers massacred everybody in my compound. They killed my sister, an undergraduate who begged them to spare her life.
What was your experience like when you first entered United States?
I am a Lion who can survive anywhere I am. The higher I go, the better I survive. My entire reggae adventure in America is similar to Bob Marley. An American man who popularized reggae music in the United States, worked closely with Marley and ensured reggae music enjoyed massive air play on radio, television and newspapers’ review saw me as a young, creative reggae artist and strongly believe that I have got a talent that can impact on humanity. He looked for me and got me a record deal in Massachusetts in America. That was my evolution into mainstream reggae world in United States. While the process was on for me to be signed on, it was initially difficult for me to start driving around in my DVD and begging to perform; all that became history after I came on the record label.
How about your reggae friendship with Ras Kimono in America?
There was a time I had a music show in New York and Ras Kimono came to witness it. It was a successful show. Kimono and I have a lasting friendship. The show was jam-packed. I was performing 7 days a week by then.
Have you got a woman in your life right now?
I would not want to talk about that because my music is my main focus right now. I am a family man and I don’t want to be distracted at all to concentrate on my music.
Will you allow you kid go into music as a profession?
Even though he may be gifted, you got to respect that child because you did not create that child. You need to allow children to make choices of whatsoever they like, provided such a child is at the age of making good decisions.
Most reggae musicians are Rastafarians. Some of them take drugs to get inspiration and be ‘high.’ Do you take drugs or smoke Marijuana (Indian hemp) to ‘get high’ on stage?
Most interpretations given to these drugs are masked. When you wear a mask you cannot see. Until you take off that mask you cannot see. No matter what you do, if you do not control your intake of Coco (that is, Cocaine); cigarette and Marijuana that would be bad. They are herbs created by Jah to give man inspiration as he takes his dominion over situations of life. Man should have dominion over it and not the other way round. ‘Weed’, that is Marijuana is just like food that people eat to feel better. Ganja (Marijuana) is a healing of the mind. You saw what Marley was doing during his lifetime because he had it under control. There is nothing wrong in smoking ‘Weed,’ but something is wrong when people abuse it. Cocaine is a hard drug that is bad. The ‘Weed’ takes you higher to a level of consciousness. I am naturally too high to take something that would make me higher to destroy my systems.
Are you saying you don’t take Marijuana?
I don’t smoke weed, but I will like to smoke it because it is good. Weed is better than beer, better than brandy, better than Cocaine; better than junk.
How did you feel the first time you tasted ‘Weed’?
I don’t know. I say I don’t smoke ‘Weed.’ There are lots of successful people like Jimmy Cliff, Burney Spear and all great celebrities that smoke Ganja. None of them messed round. Check their music success. That tells you there must be something that takes them to that level of greatness. There is nothing wrong with it when you use it to attain success in your career; but something is wrong with it when you use it to do bad things.
So, how do you get inspiration?
You get inspiration alone by the highest Jah. Remember in the old days, how the prophets get revelation through visions. Till today, many of us still get inspiration from God the creator of mankind. We have the DNA or gene of our father in us.
What message do you have for your fans worldwide?
My message is that we should all wake up from our slumber because so much is happening, nothing is done. Martin Luther King says “Freedom is not gotten by people that are oppressing you, but it is demanded by people that are oppressed.” Emancipation of people is important and the governments are not willing to change their systems. If we want total victory, we should stand up and join the ‘Freedom Train’ to emancipate ourselves.
