Daily Independent (Lagos)
Emma Maduabuchi and Darlington Abuda
8 July 2009
analysis
Lagos — The world literally stood still for Michael Jackson the late pop icon as his remains were laid to rest yesterday. The burial ceremony, held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills, where his grandmother was buried in 1990, was followed by a public memorial at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, United States of America (U.S.A).
The singer's family members, who had wanted a funeral at his former home north of Santa Barbara, were not able to obtain a residential exemption required for a burial on private property. A spokesperson for Colony Capital, the investment company that purchased Neverland, his expansive ranch in May 2008, said the company tried to get an exemption for burial but could not get it on time.
The late music legend was buried in suit designed by This Is It Costumiers, Michael Jackson's longtime costumiers, Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush. The Los Angeles-based designers, who had worked with the late artist for the last 20 years, had been creating costumes for his This Is It comeback concerts in London before his demise. His body was encased in an estimated £15,000 gold-plated coffin, lined with blue velvet. There were, however, unconfirmed reports that the coffin was entombed in concrete immediately after the funeral because of fears that crazed fans could try to dig it up. Despite the glamorous facade, Jacko, as he was readily called by millions of his admirers was buried without his brain, which was still undergoing coroner's tests for drug use.
The public memorial, held at Staple Centre was thronging with fans that stood outside despite earlier warnings by the police telling them to stay home and watch the Memorial on television because if they were unable to obtain a ticket and/or credentials, they would not be allowed within a quarter mile of the Staples Centre which only seated about 17, 500 of the fans who travelled from all over the world to say farewell to their icon. Travellers from the United Kingdom paid up to _1, 000 for tickets to Los Angeles to be part of the historic funeral, viewed by up to three billion worldwide via television.
Jacko's close friend, Elizabeth Taylor was among hundreds of A-list celebrities who attended the ceremony but the 77-year-old was so frail that singer, Barry Manilow, escorted her. Others who were at the event included Motown legend, Diana Ross, named in the singer's will as a potential custodian of his three children.
The memorial was described in some quarters as bigger than that of Elvis Presley or Princess Diana, though without equal financing. The British government had spent tens of millions of dollars on Diana's funeral, but no one stepped up to foot the bill for Jackson's thus leaving the burden of the memorial especially its security measures as the sole responsibility of the county of Los Angeles.
The life of the late music legend is actually remembered in phases in Nigeria, from 1970 to 1980; 1980 to 1990; and 1990 to 2000. Within these periods, stories and rumours were bandied about him that it became difficult isolating falsehood from the truth.
A great number of the stories and rumours actually emanated abroad, and it is believed that all combined to make of Michael Jackson, the mystery and the icon that he was, and also to make of him the emotional wreck he later became in life.
The phases between 1958, his birth date to 1970, were deliberately excluded, and the reason is obvious, the world had not become a global village, as it is known today. Then, news took some time to go round. And many of the things that happened within that period were only felt in Nigeria from the 70s.
For instance, the expedition that landed Neil Armstrong and his fellow compatriots, Michael Collins, and Edwin Buzz Aldrin, on the moon, took up to 70s to be adequately felt in the country.
Also the period after 2000 to his death is not really excluded, but most of this time, the King of Pop had become a recluse, following his child-molestation case and many issued that seemed to be happening around him.
So, remembering Michael in his early days and his impact on people of this part of the world, amounts to equally remembering Nigeria in the period around 1970s to 1980s.
Those were days when stories took days to break in Nigeria. It was those days when the wire was the quickest way of transmitting messages. Telephone was prohibitively expensive venture, and few people had it, let alone making the long distance calls with it.
Television was not the best way of getting pictures of international events, as much as cinema was. Indeed, Technicolour was the greatest thing around, but that was in the film industry. And so nightlife was very much alive as both old and young patronised the cinema.
One of the films watched with relish back then was the thrilling performance of Jackson Five, when Michael was just about six years. People (both young and old) thronged the cinemas to watch the young "American Wonder" kid.
The venue was unknown, which many have now come to realise as a Sullivan Show, and despite the fact that the picture was some five years old, the exorbitant gate fees were considered money well spent by all. Though the film was of Jackson Five, the thrill and the wonder was Michael Jackson, an emerging replacement for scintillating and legendary James Brown.
Doing the hit single ABC, part of the thrill was Michael's performance and shrilling words: "Hey common, show me what you can do...shake, shake baby, ooh ooh; shake, shake baby; ABC baby, 123 baby...etc."
ABC was the kindergarten song of the Jackson Five, but later other mature songs proceeded from the group such as I'll Be There. After this, then came the transition to teenage hood.
The first challenge against Jackson Five, which many Nigerians began to notice, was massive white support for another family group, the Osmonds. Direct challenge to Michael's dominance was, as many people observed, was Donny. It was rumoured in Nigeria that some white supremacists groups were throwing up the youth family group, just to douse the genius of Michael in particular and Jackson Five in general. The group's main known hit single was One Bad Apple. Other stories that followed Michael reared their heads later on, during his child-molestation trial, when it was suggested that white supremacists were after him because they were infuriated that Jackson Five, especially Michael, did not fizzle out like the Osmonds, and Donny. The Osmonds started singing February 13, 1971.
Just like Michael later joined the group to bring about Jackson Five, Donny also later joined his elder brothers: Alan, Wayne, Merril, and Jay in the Osmonds. Also, just as Randy joined the group to change the name to Jacksons, Jimmy also joined the Osmonds.
The Osmonds also had a little sister, Marie, who they dotted; the way the Jacksons dotted their own little sister, Janet.
The next challenges to Michael were stories written, which suggested that a family feud was tearing the Jackson group apart. The story held that Jermaine, the group's previous lead singer before Michael, had rebelled and was pursuing a solo career. Graphic pictures were painted of how the family wanted to restrain him, and he would not budge because he felt he was unfairly shortchanged with Michael. Eventually, when the album came, it was entitled: I Am Germaine.
The next stories Nigerians were treated to were those of castrations. These stories were most prominent around the period of 1980 to 1990. Rumours had it then that Michael had himself castrated because he did not want to lose his voice to adulthood. It was even insinuated as proof to this, that Michael did not have a girlfriend, not always seen in the company of girls, and hardly comfortable with the subject of marriage. It was stated that he felt no need for women, and would not go near them lest his castration status be made known. His traducers supported their claims later (after May 26, 1994) with Michael's alleged contract marriage to legendary Elvis Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie Presley.
The period of 1980 to 1990 was among the most active years of Michael in music. It was also the period he made his greatest mistakes, which mostly had to do with his plastic surgery. Another story that followed Michael during this time was the story, which suggested that his nose was falling after few years of plastic surgery.
During this period, Jacko faced career challenges. Stories were weaved by his critics and fellow performers also challenged him. First was Madonna, popularly known as the Queen of Pop who reportedly boasted that she would dethrone Michael in terms of record sales and other aspects of show business. It never happened. Another threat came from Mc Hammer, who also threatened to dethrone Michael. In fact, he was supported by legendary, James Bond, who felt Michael had not given him enough recognition and respect as the godfather of soul music and a black music icon, who started it all. There was also the feeble attempt by Bobby Brown to equal or overtake Michael. He also fell short.
By 1990 to 2000, those who claimed Michael had castrated himself supported their argument by the strange marriage he had with Marie Presley at this period. A related but equally unsubstantiated allegation was that which stated that he was a gay. However, perhaps the greatest story about Michael was the child molestation allegation slammed on him in 1993. It damaged his reputation greatly because many people believed that, though acquitted by a Court of Law, he was hardly innocent. They had taken this position because of the many such minor allegations that had trailed him in the past.
Beyond 2000, few stories were spurned that were festering. For instance, the story that he was losing his sanity was reinforced at this time. To support this story what took place in Berlin in 2002 was readily latched upon. The pop icon had held his last child, Prince Michael II, known also as Blanket over a hotel lobby as if he would drop him.
Yes, stories and rumours have continued, following the man to his grave. Stories of drug abuse and overuse have continued since questions have been raised concerning the cause of his death. By Sunday, July 5, 2009, while preparations were on for his burial, the story had it that he would be buried without his brain, because the family could not delay his burial until the tests were finally carried out.
But what not even his harshest critics could take from Michael was his gift and talent. This, it was generally believed, was a guy who could sing across many parts and pitch across octaves, from base to soprano, and still perfectly kept his bearing on the song. This was a guy with varying definitions to dancing with charisma and charm. This was a man who redefined music and its uses, redefined music videos and their use, and lifted up the black race in his own peculiar way.
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