Book: Promise Kept: My Friend Majek Fashek and I (Vols I and II)

Author: Richie Adewusi

Publishers: Nostalgia Media 

Year: 2025

“Promise Kept: My Friend Majek Fashek and I”, Richie Adewusi’s riveting two-volume, reads like a rollercoaster ride of friendships, betrayals, and lessons learned the hard way. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that integrity is a recurring theme, one that’s poignantly illustrated through various anecdotes. At its core, the book drives home a powerful message: integrity is like a mirror – once shattered, it’s tough to mend.

One such anecdote involves a “Christian brother” who commissioned the author’s design team to create labelling samples for a big client, only to take the job elsewhere once they delivered. The lack of reaction from his spiritual community was telling, revealing a glaring lack of accountability. Similarly, an acquaintance-turned-friend presented an opportunity to produce military visuals, which the team delivered with dedication and expertise. However, this “friend” vanished after approval, outsourcing the project without compensating the team and leaving a badly tarnished professional reputation in their wake.

These examples, among others, underscore the importance of integrity in personal and professional relationships, a theme that resonates throughout the book. By exploring these complex dynamics, Adewusi offers a nuanced reflection on the human experience.

The plot thickens with the Christian Booksellers Association of Nigeria (CBAN) incident. Amidst the tumultuous June 12, 1993 presidential election protests, the author’s firm landed a contract for CBAN’s national convention. Despite proposing an unforgettable event, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) struggled to secure funding. When student protests forced a venue change, the LOC’s priorities seemed to shift – they suddenly refused to cover costs, leaving the firm to wonder if their word was as good as their faith. The firm’s response was pragmatic: locking the venue until payment was made. The LOC’s response, however, was telling: a prayer for divine intervention, asking God to pay them instead. This incident highlights the disconnect between faith and action.

This wasn’t an isolated incident. In 1994, Centrestage Communications Limited, the author’s brainchild, landed a juicy contract with UAC Foods. A “Christian sister” claiming a connection to a “Christian brother” begged for help with her own contract, and the author obliged with a Good Samaritan act, complete with a discount. But little did they know this “sister” would become a test of faith and patience. She had no funding, and her behaviour turned erratic. The grand finale? A dramatic confrontation where the author was accused of defrauding this “sister.”

Unfortunately, these weren’t the only dubious dealings the author faced. There was the case of a cunning attempt to swindle him out of a donation he’d made to a church, with the audacious claim that his check had bounced – a brazen lie. And then, there was the public servant who shamelessly asked for a percentage-based bribe, but conveniently forgot to provide an invoice for the requested amount. These incidents paint a picture of a system where integrity is tested, and the lines between right and wrong are often blurred.

These cautionary tales, strewn across the book’s two volumes, highlight the importance of integrity, defined by attributes like honesty, trustworthiness, moral principles, consistency, and accountability. As we see in the story of Majek Fashek, the author’s friend, integrity is crucial in navigating life’s challenges. Fashek’s journey in the US with his band serves as a backdrop for exploring the human condition, where the pursuit of greatness and the fragility of human existence intersect.

Beneath the surface of seemingly disparate lives, a profound connection emerges between Majek Fashek’s experience and the author’s– a thread that weaves together the pursuit of greatness, the fragility of human existence, and the forces that seek to undermine our highest aspirations. This existential thread invites readers to venture into the shadows of the human psyche, where facades of virtue often conceal calculated attempts to distort reality and stifle creativity. In this high-stakes game of cat and mouse, aspiration and oppression collide, and the consequences of exposure can be devastating.

Through the crucible of bitter experiences, both Fashek and the author emerge transformed, imbued with profound new insights that bespeak a deeper understanding of the human condition. This narrative embodies the spirit of a coming-of-age tale, where the protagonist is forged in the fire of adversity, emerging wiser, more nuanced, and more resilient. Fashek’s journey, meanwhile, serves as a haunting odyssey of self-discovery, ended tragically with his demise.

The author’s unique perspective, shaped by their experiences as a child of a Yoruba father and an Igbo mother, informs a narrative deluge of indictments that cascade from start to finish. Driven by a commitment to understanding the nation’s complexities, the author pens an expansive and introspective exploration. Ultimately, “Promise Kept” serves as a reminder that faith without accountability is just a fantasy. It’s a riveting account that will keep the reader hooked, suffused with photographs that bri ng the stories to life. Richie Adewusi’s narrative masterfully weaves together themes of friendship, betrayal, and redemption, making this book a compelling read for anyone interested in the intricacies of human relationships.