FARE-THEE-WELL IN PERFECT, PEACEFUL REPOSE!
Though he had been in celebrated, acclaimed, public world-stage and view for, at least, the last forty-years, his appearance at the age of nine was like that of a meteorite – a Comet – unexpected as a flash! Now, he has disappeared just as he came - quickly and silently; and just as the world was getting ready to watch one more of his usually unique performances, which he had announced would be his last curtain-raiser. That was, in his last press conference, when he said: “See you in July”. By some stroke of fate, his last curtain-raiser came just at the nick of time! Was it the fulfillment of prophesy?
Michael Jackson’s choreography is the like of what is found only in the Dances of Igboland of Nigeria! For instance, in the 1950’s, there was a young boy – slim and strong - employed by one Patent Medicine Dealer, to sing and dance to draw crowds, to whom he would advertize and sell his medicines. His singing and choreographic displays were intricate and captivating, prancing all over the place.
His performances were so lithe and sleek that he was nicknamed: “Stinging Mosquito”; and his Dancing: “Ajasco”. In appreciation of his unique, untutored, performances, some people would toss one-penny or a three pence piece, to him, for himself. That was the end of it for that boy and his ilk because, the culture did not encourage making a profession of such a talent.
Though that art of selling patent medicines has been immortalized in a Nigerian Movie, yet the art was never up-graded to a professional entertainment status. The boy who, for obvious reasons, did not have much education, was able only to start a Patent Medicine Store, in one corner of Enugu - without the dancing, of course. The living he made out of the business was nothing to write home about.
Also, in the 1940’s, an unbeatable Dance for Boys, named the: “Etilogwu”, meaning: “Is Medicine/Magic Added?” which, (“Like Johnny Walker (Whiskey), born 1860, still going strong”), is still going ever strong, in its agility, rhythm, cohesiveness, unison, and creativeness; combining native original dancing choreography, acrobatics and aerobics. This is the dance that Dr. K. O. Mbadiwe, as Minister of Aviation, after negotiating a partnership of the Nigerian Airways with the Pan-American Airways in 1982, took to the US, with two royal trumpeters, on the maiden flight – Lagos to New York – which he captioned: “Operation Fantastic”.
And there is yet another Dance for men and women: the “Akwu N’eche Enyi”, which surfaced in the 1950s as a refinement of the ancient: “Ijele Masquerade Dance”. The name means that: “The Thicket Protects the Elephant”. The melody and powerful rhythm of the drumming, the eerie calls of the native flute and the regulated monotonous chiming of the metal gong in the music of this Dance, compulsively, prompts everybody to jump up and to start moving and dancing, in any way possible. Michael Jackson’s earlier performances had affinity with the quick, electric, choreography of Ajasco and Etilogwu Dances; while his Rehearsal Tapes of the 50 Nights World Show has a great deal of resemblance to the slower, mellow, relaxed steps of the: “Akwu N’Eche Enyi Dance”.
In all of these, one would ask: Did Michael Jackson ever have an opportunity to witness any of the performances of these Dances, as to observe anything from them? Or were the semblances of his dancing and choreography all natural, as they are to these Igbo Dancers?
There should be no wonder that Michael Jackson was in physical pains, from his dancing, most of his life? Watching him dancing, one would observe that his whole being – body, soul and intellect - was totally engaged, consumed and involved! He was completely focused in his singing, movements and rhythm, and unreservedly immersed and enwrapped in them. He reserved no energy; and spared no pains! I have always wondered: What gives him such energy and strength?
He performed for the old and young of all the races of humankind – good, bad, indifferent! For instance, in 1995, when he did the promotion for the Jackson-Five, it was my three-year old grand-daughter, who would always run to call me as soon as Michael Jackson appeared on the TV Screen; she would hail: “Gamma, Gamma, Mackey Jashin”.
He loved to perform, and loved the people for whom he performed! He lived for the satisfaction he derived from the practice of the Art of: Singing, Dancing and Entertaining; from people’s appreciation of his exhibition ns. He went to great lengths to satisfy his fans, and to keep their attention on him! He lived for and advocated compassion and love!
The Man in the Mirror was a thoroughbred genius! His life-style was exclusive, eccentric and enigmatic! He earned big, spent big, and gave away big! He did not keep what he earned for himself. He was very rich and powerful in life, in living, in loving and in giving! And it promises that he will be even richer and much more powerful in death! His children, family, friends and lineage would be fabulously and stinking-rich!
Thanks be to God, who created Michael Jackson, and gave him the parents and siblings he had! To my mind, his father was in his life just as an agent to perform the inevitable function of compelling him into action; just as Judas Iscariot was in the life of Jesus - to fulfill the prophesy of: Betraying Him! Thanks be to God, he did not say that he hated his father! Thanks be to God who made Michael the vehicle for such richness of talent, love and wealth that he was!
Thanks be to God that he left three children – hopefully, his biological offspring - who could be chips off the old block; or could learn to be, by training, what their father was! Thanks be to God for his legacies and their preservation, in indelible Videos, DVDs, and the like. Thank God for family, friends and employees, who would stand up for Michael Jackson, through thick and thin!
Thanks be to God for the Rehearsal Tapes of the 50-Days World Tour Show, which he had said would be the last Curtain Raiser for him; in which he was seen, performing for the last time, to be as lively, robust, and agile, as ever! Though these will make the memory of Michael Jackson physically palpable yet, even without them, he would live in the hearts and minds of the people who loved him, which is said to be not to die, but to live for ever!
Michael Jackson bowed out of the stage of this life when the ovation was loudest! He did not, and could not, wait to become an invalid – a bed-ridden, or brain-damaged, patient - in the wheel chair! At a time like this, people would wish that time could be pulled back, so that those things that were left undone, could be done; and those things that were done wrongly, could be righted. He was born to be great; and he became the greatest; attaining the title of: “King of Pop”. He ruled and reigned in the eyes, hearts and minds of the world! And there he will stay, forever, like the classics - Beethoven, Shakespeare, Einstein, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, etc! He will be mourned; and his life and legacies celebrated, indefinitely!
Michael Jackson, Ga ije-gi nke-oma! Na-n’udo! Zue ike gi na-ndokwa! Ka emesia! Nodu mma! May the Angels of God receive your noble soul, and give you eternal rest, in perfect peace in the bosom of the Lord! Amen!!!
Did Obama under appreciate Michael Jackson?
My Dear Brother, President Barak Obama;
THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A MISTAKE OF UNDER APPRECIATION!
There must have been a mistake of under appreciation and understatement on your side,
about our brother, Mr. Michael Jackson, which will explain why you treated him with
such levity at his sudden death. To put it mildly, I was shocked as I am sure millions of
others were around the Globe, to hear of your very mild tribute to the memory of
Mr. Michael Jackson; and, above all, it was not even given by you, but in your behalf
by your press secretary.
It beats all imagination how you could have so under-rated the devastating blow of the
sudden death of the thoroughbred genius, and the mega legend called Michael Jackson, and under appreciated its enormity to the United States of America, the nation of African-Americans; the Black Race; and the whole world. The suddenness of Michael Jackson’s death must have shaken the Rock of Gibraltar!
What could have been responsible for your under-estimation of Mr. Michael Jackson’s worth
and impact in the United States, and in the world, for blazing the trail, first and foremost, for
you? Was it political correctness? There does not seem to be any reason for your coldness for
the devastating news, as both of you share the same position and lime light in the world.
For instance:
i. Both of you are of the Black Race – exploited, hated, discriminated, persecuted and profiled;
ii. He was the first of the kind – even before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - in blazing trails;
raising bars; breaking barriers; crossing boundaries; building bridges; mixing the grill;
making the USA the real melting pot that she is supposed to be:
He in music, compassion, humanitarian giving and entertainment; and
You - in education, patriotism, community development and politics;
iii. He - being the first ever human being to be acknowledged in breaking stone-wall barriers for
the Black Race; and being, unequivocally, accepted by all the races of humankind, in all the
Nooks and Crannies of the world, before you!
iv. Take a look at the spontaneity of the overwhelming outpouring of:
sheer love for you and the jubilation all over the world at your winning the Presidential
Election; and the inestimable love for Michael Jackson, the seas of the appreciation of his
music and dancing in his lifetime, and the continuous cascading of the celebration of his life;
even much more than a million-fold at his death!
I believe that the whole world is waiting to hear from you, about your own personal feelings
and tribute to Mr. Michael Jackson – giving him the honor that is due him - the super mega
talented, chock-ful’o-meaning lyricist; the shy, soft-spoken icon; but a high-pitched, sonorous,
never-to-be equaled, unbeatable singer; perfect dancer-choreographer; mega-super actor;
most brilliant, dazzling star; great friend; the man in the mirror; the compassionate and giving
legend – the replica of whom – like Beethoven and Shakespeare - may never tread this earth
again!
Oyibo E. Odinamadu (Mrs.)
THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A MISTAKE OF UNDER APPRECIATION!
There must have been a mistake of under appreciation and understatement on your side,
about our brother, Mr. Michael Jackson, which will explain why you treated him with
such levity at his sudden death. To put it mildly, I was shocked as I am sure millions of
others were around the Globe, to hear of your very mild tribute to the memory of
Mr. Michael Jackson; and, above all, it was not even given by you, but in your behalf
by your press secretary.
It beats all imagination how you could have so under-rated the devastating blow of the
sudden death of the thoroughbred genius, and the mega legend called Michael Jackson, and under appreciated its enormity to the United States of America, the nation of African-Americans; the Black Race; and the whole world. The suddenness of Michael Jackson’s death must have shaken the Rock of Gibraltar!
What could have been responsible for your under-estimation of Mr. Michael Jackson’s worth
and impact in the United States, and in the world, for blazing the trail, first and foremost, for
you? Was it political correctness? There does not seem to be any reason for your coldness for
the devastating news, as both of you share the same position and lime light in the world.
For instance:
i. Both of you are of the Black Race – exploited, hated, discriminated, persecuted and profiled;
ii. He was the first of the kind – even before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - in blazing trails;
raising bars; breaking barriers; crossing boundaries; building bridges; mixing the grill;
making the USA the real melting pot that she is supposed to be:
He in music, compassion, humanitarian giving and entertainment; and
You - in education, patriotism, community development and politics;
iii. He - being the first ever human being to be acknowledged in breaking stone-wall barriers for
the Black Race; and being, unequivocally, accepted by all the races of humankind, in all the
Nooks and Crannies of the world, before you!
iv. Take a look at the spontaneity of the overwhelming outpouring of:
sheer love for you and the jubilation all over the world at your winning the Presidential
Election; and the inestimable love for Michael Jackson, the seas of the appreciation of his
music and dancing in his lifetime, and the continuous cascading of the celebration of his life;
even much more than a million-fold at his death!
I believe that the whole world is waiting to hear from you, about your own personal feelings
and tribute to Mr. Michael Jackson – giving him the honor that is due him - the super mega
talented, chock-ful’o-meaning lyricist; the shy, soft-spoken icon; but a high-pitched, sonorous,
never-to-be equaled, unbeatable singer; perfect dancer-choreographer; mega-super actor;
most brilliant, dazzling star; great friend; the man in the mirror; the compassionate and giving
legend – the replica of whom – like Beethoven and Shakespeare - may never tread this earth
again!
Oyibo E. Odinamadu (Mrs.)
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