AS I type this in these ungodly hours reeling from having lost my music mentor, I begin to realise how invaluable as natural gifts we are in this world and yet the world fails to accept that we are unique, special and irreplaceable thus the special treatment that everyone is contesting can be justifiable.
It was my friend Lucky Dube who gave me an opportunity to personally meet Michael Jackson at one of his shows where we were also performing.
Without suggesting that we should be reckless and destructive in our daily living and disrespecting the societies we live in, America's justice system failed to show Michael Jackson the love and dignity that he gave all of us in his living years -- breaking the barriers created by the “black and white” love-hate syndrome.
Michael Jackson’s passing is such a pain to many people around the world, but to most in Africa who were subjected to the dehumanising systems that made us feel that being black was a curse, he gave us more than music. He gave us dignity and unfettered hope.
When others celebrate Elvis Presley in his death, thank God we also have someone bigger than life that as Africans we can celebrate in his death forever until the end of times.
Living in South Africa at the peak of apartheid, our houses were filled with pride whenever we watched videos and played music of the legendary Michael Jackson who made dance moves that made us to spend many hours trying to figure out how the magical moves were naturally made.
He gave us a life to study, to practise and to live as we really lived his style of clothing, moves, pride and musical excellence thus some of us we are prominent names today in the music circles of South Africa from the journey that began with idolising Michael.
My heart is filled with so much grief, pain and anger realising that my teenage idol is gone.
There is one part of me that is angry at America for having taken such a hero above all heroes through such a traumatising period -- the many court battles Michael had to fight.
There were times when his court case proceedings were mimicked on our screens and the anger that I would bear, wishing I could get a direct line connecting me with this soft human being who was treated with such harshness under the rationalisation of observing the judiciary system that often protects others whilst hurting others. I wanted to tell him to come and live in Africa because in Africa he would be treated like a king as he deservedly qualified.
How do you return Love with Hatred and destruction of a human being who made the world unite in love?
The deterioration of Michael Jackson’s life began during the court cases and lawsuits that the very nation he made proud used to inflict pain on such a grand scale.
Michael Jackson would not raise a finger at another person but shed a heartfelt tear to poverty stricken children in Africa. How ironic then, that his first encounter with the demeaning court incident was about a child molestation case against him?
We were supposed to believe The Man in the Mirror who sent love miles away to all the suffering children of the world had hurt a child living in his own yard!
I am not blaming anyone for Michael’s death but I am trying to understand the part of the human being that delights in another person’s pain.
There remain irreplaceable special people who are a rare gift given to us for a short moment. We need to try and preserve the priceless value God has placed in our midst whilst it still bears life.
I don’t know whether I am making sense since I am writing this under such a dampened spirit and an emotional journey back to the times when I was the Michael Jackson of my neighbourhood, gracing every party with my MJ dance moves.
May his soul rest in peace and the world change for better through his departure!
To the Jackson Four and the whole Jackson family, may you find peace in memories of that soft spoken peaceful soul of Michael and comfort in knowing that your family reigns all over the world through his departed soul.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus, the love and the fellowship of our Heavenly Father rest and abide with you in these difficult times until Jesus comes!
Eugene Mthethwa is executive director of Trompies Entertainment. He travelled the world playing the keyboard for the late reggae legend Lucky Dube