Majek Fashek
Popular Reggae Nigeria music legend, songwriter, Majek Fashek is reportedly dead, Aged 57, powerofnaija news gathers.
His death was announced by Joy Tongo former artiste manager to Cynthia Morgan on her Instagram handle @joytongo.
She posted: “Legendary musician, Mr. Majek Fashek, my uncle passed on today in New York City.”
He is best known for the 1988 album ‘Prisoner of Conscience’, which included the multiple award-winning single “Send Down the Rain”.
Also known as ‘The Rainmaker’, he has worked with various artists worldwide, including Tracy Chapman, Jimmy Cliff, Michael Jackson.
Recall, Mr Uzoma, who has been managing Majek’s career in the last seven years, in January 2020 debuck Majek dealth rumour.
At the time, he said Majek, 57, was discharged from Queen Elizabeth Hospital in England where he was treated and moved to the U.S.
“I am very pleased to announce that Majek is hale and hearty and under the watch of his son, Randy, who is based in the U.S. He can speak perfectly at the moment,” he said.
However, the cause of his death is yet to be ascertained as at the time of publishing thus report.
About Majek Fashek
Majek Folabee Shamsudeen
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Birth name | Majekodunmi Fasheke |
Born | February 1963 Benin Edo State, Nigeria |
Genres | Reggae, roots reggae, rock |
Occupation(s) | singer, songwriter, actor |
Years active | early 90s—present |
Labels | Interscope Records |
Associated acts | Jastix Monicazation |
Early life
Musical career
Early 80’s: Jastix
In the early eighties Fashek, who at the time went by the stage name Rajesh Kanal, joined the group Jastix with McRoy Gregg, and Drummer Black ‘Rice. They were best known as the in-house band on the show Music Panorama on NTA Benin, and toured with fellow reggae group The Mandators. Jastix were also session musicians for upcoming reggae singer Edi Rasta, who would later be known as Evi-Edna Ogholi.[7]
1988–1990: Prisoner of Conscience and I&I Experience
In 1988, shortly after Jastix disbanded Fashek, who now used the name Majek Fashek, signed with Tabansi Records and began a solo career by releasing the album Prisoner of Conscience and quickly became Nigeria’s top reggae artist after the song “Send Down The Rain” became the most popular song of the year, and in 1989 he won six PMAN awards for “Song of the Year”, “Album of the Year”, and “Reggae Artist of the Year” among others.[8] Fashek’s next album was I&I Experience which was released in late 1989 under the Tabansi Label.
1991: So Long Too Long and American invasion
After leaving Tabansi Records, he was signed to CBS Nigeria in the early 1990s and released So Long Too Long. It was included on Putumayo World Music‘s first album. In 1990 he was signed to Interscope Records and released the critically acclaimed album Spirit Of Love, produced by “Little Steven” Van Zandt. In 1992, he appeared on Late Night with David Letterman in support of his new 1991 album, and performed the song “So Long Too Long” for the television audience.[9]
Flame Tree released The Best of Majek Fashek in 1994. He was later dropped by Interscope before moving to Mango, a division of Island Records, as it was more accustomed to marketing reggae internationally. His first album for the company included a cover version of Bob Marley‘s “Redemption Song”. He has recorded several albums for various labels since, including Rainmaker for Tuff Gong (1997) and Little Patience for Coral (2004).