Nigeria Mourns Michael Jackson with the World….

It was my birthday and I knew that I would have to get home and spend some time with the family. My children always look forward to this time of the year. Dad’s birthday today followed by Mummy’s the next day. Did they really plan this coincidence? Not really! It is wifey’s birthday today by the way. Another July babe.

Coffin - £15,000,14-karat gold, blue velevet interior

I was also hoping I could catch a little bit of Michael Jackson’s memorial service on “CNN” or “E” or “Sky”. It was going to be a global affair. It brought back memories of Princess Diana. At the time, I was working in Westminster and I was at the epic center, so to say, of activities. That period, I thought, I would never witness again. WRONG! HOW WRONG!!

Fans at Times Square

Michael Jackson, a friend of the late Princess Diana, was to attract even more worldwide TV audience. Mt 5 year old son, Gov, can no longer walk around the house without moon walking. That is the effect one man has had on the planet.

The Jackson brothers

Let us be honest with ourselves, this man was far from perfect, but I have a sneaking feeling that the angels would applaud him on his journey to heaven.

He knew he had the talent. He blessed the world with this talent. To be on stage for over 40 years. 40 long years is no joke. That could only have been with the help of the Almighty one.

What can be said that was not said yesterday?

What emotions were not exposed yesterday?

The only painful thing is that, like everything that is to be missed, it is not really appreciated when around.

There were so many moments for me yesterday while watching the memorial live, courtesy of CNN. The pregnant Jennifer Hudson was at her best said wifey as I made my way upstairs to join the children who were glued to the screen.”Daddy, you needed to have seen Jennifer”, my excited daughter said. “She was very good”.

Mariah Carey and Trey Lorenz

I sat down to experience MJ’s history, to watch His-Story narrated, sang to, danced to and cried to by his fellow entertainers, friends and family.

I then asked wifey if Usher had sang, and as if by magic, Usher answered me by strolling on to the stage to sing “Gone Too soon”. It was surreal.

Emotional Usher

Lionel Ritchie

List of guests invited to public memorial service for Michael Jackson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles:

Larry King, Dionne Warwick,  LeVar Burton, Mariah Carey, Spike Lee, Wesley Snipes, Lou Ferrigno, Stevie Wonder, Usher, Lionel Richie, Brooke Shields, Kobe Bryant, Berry Gordy, Jennifer Hudson, Magic Johnson, John Mayer, Chris Brown, The Rev. Jesse Jackson, The Rev. Al Sharpton, Smokey Robinson, Queen Latifah, Martin Luther King III, Bernice A. King, Shaheen Jafargholi (finalist on “Britain’s Got Talent”), Pastor Lucious Smith (family friend), Ron Boyd (family friend), Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Mickey Rooney and wife, Jan Chamberlin, Mario Lopez, Corey Feldman.

Queen Latifah

Michael had a dream, to unite the world through his music, through love. Well he definitely took a small step step for man in that direction, but definitely a giant leap for humanity in the true sense of its meaning.

I always wondered how he would be remembered once the Good Lord decided MJ’s time was up. I must confess, its is still a shock to me that it was this soon, because you just woould never think someone such as MJ, a global icon, would depart unannounced. Stevie Wonder who said ”This is a moment that I wish that I didn’t live to see come”, went on to add that - ”but as much as I can say that and mean it, I do know that God is good and I do know that as much as we may feel – and we do – that we need Michael here with us, God must have needed him far more”. How true, so, so true.

Brooke Shields

Berry Gordon, the man God chose to give Michael and his brothers a platform to exhibit their talent said ”Michael Jackson went into orbit and never came down. Though it ended way too soon, Michael’s life was beautiful.”Sure there was some sad times and maybe some questionable decisions on his part, but Michael Jackson accomplished everything he dreamed of.”

The speech that gave me goose pimples was delivered by the eloquent and much controversial and much feared speaker The Reverend Al Sharpton. This speech was very powerful and so true.

Michael Jackson with Rev Al Sharpton and Rev Jesse Jackson

During his emotional speech, Sharpton credited Michael for bringing people of all races together. “It was Michael Jackson that brought blacks and whites and Asians and Latinos together. It was Michael Jackson that made us sing ‘we are the world,’ to feed the hungry long before Live Aid.”

“It was that comfort level that kids from Japan and Ghana and France and Iowa and Pennsylvania got comfortable enough with each other so later it wasn’t strange to us to watch Oprah on television,” the reverend continued.

“Those young kids grew up from being teenage comfortable fans of Michael to being 40 years old and being comfortable to vote for a person of color to be the president of the United States of America,” he continued.

Brother Jermaine sing "Smile", MJ's favourite track

“Michael did that,” Sharpton said. “Michael made us love each other. Michael taught us to stand with each other.”

“I first met Michael around 1970. From that day as a cute kid to this moment, he never gave up dreaming. It was that dream that changed culture all over the world.

“When Michael started, it was a different world. But because Michael kept going, because he didn’t accept limitations, because he refused to let people decide his boundaries, he opened up the whole world.

A new star is born. Shaheen Jafargholi (finalist on "Britain's Got Talent")

“He put on one glove, pulled his pants up and broke down the colour curtain. When now our videos are shown and magazines put us on the cover, it was Michael Jackson that brought blacks and whites and Asians and Latinos together. Michael made us love each other.

MJ 3

Janet and Latoya with Paris and Prince Michael II

He then addressed Michael’s three children Michael Joseph Jr. aka Prince Michael, 12; Paris Michael Katherine, 11; and Prince Michael II aka ‘Blanket’, 7.

“I want his children to know there was nothing strange about your daddy, it was strange what your daddy had to deal with.”

The speech prompted a standing ovation, with Michael’s daughter Paris being among the first to stand. Whether you agree or disagree with Rev. Al Sharpton’s statements, he gave one powerful speech! Check out his speech below and let us know your thoughts.

Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant

So what would my lasting memories of MJ be?

Firstly his ability to recognise his talent. Everyone is gifted with one, some die not recognising it, some choose to simply ignore it out of fear or ignorance. Michael confronted his and shared it with us all.

Secondly his ability to do it his way. Not many have the guts to put on a white glove on just one hand. Not many have the audacity to attempt what he accomplished.

Thirdly for his love. This man cared, as simple as ABC. He went beyond what others would consider crazy. He was crazily in loive with the world.

Fourtly, his music. You need to listen more to his lyrics and the message they had.

The Jackson Clan on stage including the showbiz shy elder sister Rebbie

Michael this is my own little tribute to you, a god here on earth. A god who knew he was created in God Almighty’s image and recognised that he had the power to create.

I applaud you.

Bye Michael....RIP

Rest in peace MJ.

…believe it or not, I wrote this tribute accompanied by the tune of “heal the world” in my head.

“Anything is possible”

 

Today: 19th January 2009

1646 words

There is so much happening in my head right now.New maid. Obama’s letter to her daughters. So much popping in my head. Now where do I start…..

We now have a new maid called ‘Blessing’ – I am putting together a piece called “Maids Tale” – I tell you, some stories that are just out of this world – and I pray her name really brings us all the blessings, God’s blessings we all crave for in Jesus name. AMEN.

Muyi, my driver, finally put the nail on his – well you know what I mean on Saturday. This guy has really chewed what he cannot swallow. I am sorry, if he thinks the work of a driver is beneath him, and with the attitude that he now projects – more like his New Year’s wish, then there must be something wrong here. And I am sure it is definitely not with me.

My mentor, FB, saw this coming. Another good friend, whom I will simply refer to as ‘Mogaji’ profoundly jokes around that I treat my driver like a friend. Well I was just a few months old in the country, so it was all very hazy to me. I could not completely relate to the sound advice (take note of this tip) I was being given early on then.

This is a guy that practically is fed every day, minus his salary of course. Wifey travelled to the UK and came back with stuff any driver would have only dreamt of. Well, I am not announcing to the world that wifey or me are perfect, but the fact of the matter is we just did not treat our maid or driver like they ought to be treated. PERIOD.

A driver is a driver. A house maid is a house maid. Once I started to delve into the reins of political correctness in treating my employees, then insubordination will beckon.  

And that was exactly what has happened. Anyway, Muyi had to be phoned and sent a text before he reported to work on Saturday. That wasn’t enough; the petrol tank was virtually empty. He did not bother to acknowledge my missed call or text message – can you now imagine the over familiarity my saneness has achieved? – When I eventually got through to him I told him in no unmistaken tone the time he needed to be at my house for.

When he did arrive it was 18 minutes late, with no apologies offered, proceeded to clean the car. I approached and queried him. I offered to find a Saturday driver and deduct his salary accordingly. The echo to my suggestion hadn’t expired before he accepted. Unperturbed, I left and decided there and then that his days were over. All I needed to do was to look for a new driver before the end of the month.

Only for me to get a – dictionary assisted written letter of resignation scribbled onto one side of a lined A5 sheet of paper handed over to me this morning. All this happened as early as 6.35am when I arrived for work. I read the note before leaving the car and simply said “Okay”.

Hard lesson learnt; a driver is a driver. A house maid is just a house maid. I will never be sentimental in relating to the human beings wearing the coat of arm of these positions. Never again I have promised. So the search has since commenced and I shall report on our new driver as soon as he is employed.

I must however point out that Muyi was gracious to give me a month’s notice. He must have had pity on me when I told him a few things about etiquette and life when, Rebecca, our ex-house maid gave wifey a cock and bull story about wanting to go back to school. Incidentally, this is the same reason Muyi has given. Can’t these guys think of any other excuse? Fair enough, he has been good. In fact quite good and the problem may have emanated from the fact that he heard a lot of those commendations from me.  Something they are never use to. Yet another of my mistakes?

On the new house maid – ‘Blessing’ – well, let me just say that she is working very hard at the moment to satisfy ‘Madam’. Well so hard that she broke ‘Madam’s’ favourite glass pot lid.

‘Prof’ – my son came rushing upstairs to inform us on Friday night that ‘Blessing’ is weeping. “Why”? wifey and I asked. “She is crying and holding onto her head because she has broken your (pointing at wifey) pot lid. I looked at wifey, she returned the look, both of us amazed but undisturbed. “Tell her it is okay”, said wifey. That message would not work as ‘Prof’ is back with the information that the wailings had increased accompanied with a scary look on her face. That was when I told wifey to go an physically assure her that “all was well”. That was exactly what wifey did. Okay, no problem. It’s only a pot lid, albeit wifey’s favourite pot and the biggest in the house that travelled with her so many thousands of miles from the UK.

Saturday!

Our Saturdays will no longer be the same anymore. The singer, my daughter has to go to Saturday school and the boys have a Ghanaian home tutor come around by 8am. I told the children we are now in Nigeria, and they have to compete with other bright students who have similar private arrangements. I remember in the UK, majority of the very bright Asian students had private tuition at home.

Wifey came downstairs to the kitchen to meet a damaged cupboard. Again it was ‘Blessing’ who had forced the door to the cupboard opened. I saw it and I just could not make out what this 18 year old of a blessing is up to. In as many months, Rebecca did not bend a spoon even if she tried to. By the way, my theory, and only my hypothesis, is that Rebecca may have been ‘pregnant’. Well. Anyway, ‘Blessing’ who looks for new creases to demarcate while ironing my shirts or trousers has a long way to go yet. However the jury is out. We shall see.

“Anything is possible”

Obama said it last night at the ‘We are One’ Inaugural concert held at Lincoln Memorial. Together with the children, it was past their bed time. I however allowed them participate and inhale the euphoria of history in the making especially with the knowledge of the ‘stars’ set to grace the occasion. From Denzel Washington to the ‘Boss’ Bruce Springteen to Mary J Blige. Jamie Fox, Bette Levette – the Blues singer, Jon Bon Jovi, Tom Hanks, Janes Taylor, John Mellencamp, Jennifer Nettles all were honoured to be on stage.

It wasn’t finished. Josh Groban, Heather Headley, Queen Latifa, Mr Herbie Hancock, Will.I.Am, Sherly Crow, Tiger Woods Renee Fleming and Jack Black also turned up.

For those who missed it, an estimated 500, 000 people braved the bitterly cold weather. But it must have been worth it. I would have loved to be there. Oh, Usher, Shakira and Mr Stevie Wonder sang. Garth Brooks was fantastic, so was Mr Kool himself – Samuel L Jackson in his trade mark wearing black Kangol beret. The energetic, Africa sympathiser Bono and U2 were present, so was a live EAGLE which symbolises America.

It was truly a celebration of the American renewal. President and Vice President elects with their family sat, mimed, danced and applauded. They acted like the common man on the street in spite of the transparent bullet proof that acted as a shield.

Change was the theme and still is the theme and we certainly cannot escape history. How poignant listening to a quote by Abraham Lincoln – the 16^th President of the United States, whose footsteps, Obama is carefully treading – “So as I will not be a slave (to the drumbeats of the orchestral made up of the Armed Forces), so will I not be a master”. I must confess a tinged of sadness descended upon me when my mind drifted to the wealth of natural and human resources God Almighty in his infinite mercies has endowed the continent of Africa with. And I hasten to add that God Almighty is quite aware of the arresting situation that has imprisoned my beloved continent.

It was time for Obama to rally not just Americans but all the other World Leaders who must surely by now be inspired by the hope and change Obama intends to bring to the world of politics. The case of Obama must never be like that of Tiger Woods where others marvel from afar without bothering to compete. Other leaders must galvanise the support of the people just as Obama has managed to achieve, and together the world can be a better place to live in. Obama said “the people who love this country can change it”. Ronald Reagan once said “How can we love our country and not love our country men”.

Obama, the first African-American to be elected president, stared at the sea of people and told them, “What gives me hope is what I see when I look out across this mall. For in these monuments are chiselled those unlikely stories that affirm our unyielding faith – a faith that anything is possible in America.”  - and in AFRICA, dare I add. And I mean it.

Beyonce, radiating with elegance brought the beautifully organised show to an end with her rendition of “America The Beautiful”.

I still have goose pimples.

 

Photo of the day: Oshodi – Before and After!

 

Remember, “Do not wait for the future to come to you, face the future” – and anything can happen