Musical Legend: Majek Fashek

INTRODUCTION

Majekodunmi Fasheke, widely known as Majek Fashek (March 1963 – June 1, 2020), was a Nigerian singer-songwriter and guitarist. His 1988 album, Prisoner of Conscience, featured the hit single "Send Down the Rain," which earned six PMAN Music Awards. Also referred to as The Rainmaker, he collaborated with numerous artists globally, including Tracy Chapman, Jimmy Cliff, Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg, and Beyoncé.

EARLY LIFE

Fashek was born in Benin City in 1963 to an Edo mother and an Ijesa father, although he primarily identified with his Benin heritage. Various interpretations of his name, Fasheke (Ifá à ṣe èké), include "powers of miracles" and "divination does not lie." It is associated with the orisha (deity) Ifa, the deity of divination in the Yoruba religion, and translates to "Ifa does not lie or deceive." Following his parents' separation, Fashek stayed in Benin City with his mother and later joined the choir at his local Aladura church, where he learned to play the trumpet and guitar while composing songs for the choir.

MUSICAL CAREER: EARLY 1980s: JAH STILL

In the early 1980s, Fashek, then performing under the stage name Rajesh Kanal, joined the group Jah Stix alongside musicians Amos McRoy Gregg and Black Rice. The trio quickly gained fame as the in-house band for the NTA Benin show Music Panorama and toured with fellow reggae group The Mandators, led by Victor Essiet. Jah Stix also served as session musicians for emerging reggae artist Edi Rasta, later known as Evi-Edna Ogholi.

1987–1990: PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE AND I&I EXPERIENCE

 

After Jah Stix disbanded in 1987, Fashek, now known as Majek Fashek, signed with Tabansi Records and embarked on a solo career, releasing the album Prisoner of Conscience. He quickly rose to prominence as Nigeria's leading reggae artist after "Send Down The Rain" became the year's most popular song. In 1989, he won six PMAN awards, including "Song of the Year," "Album of the Year," and "Reggae Artist of the Year." His subsequent album, I&I Experience, was released in late 1989 under the Tabansi label and featured the anti-apartheid anthem "Free Africa, Free Mandela," which sampled Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye."

IN 1991:

The song 'So Long' and American Invasion

After departing from Tabansi Records, Fashek signed with CBS Nigeria in the early 1990s and released So Long Too Long, which was included in Putumayo World Music's debut album. In 1990, he signed with 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, performing "So Long Too Long" for the television audience. Flame Tree released The Best of Majek Fashek in 1994. He was later dropped by Interscope but moved to Mango, a division of Island Records, known for marketing reggae internationally. His first album for Mango included a cover of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song," and he recorded several albums for various labels thereafter, including Rainmaker for Tuff Gong (1997) and Little Patience for Coral (2004).

MUSICAL STYLE

Fashek's musical influences included Bob Marley, whom he vocally resembled, Jimi Hendrix, and Fela Kuti. He was among the original Nigerian artists attracted to Caribbean music, particularly reggae, rather than indigenous genres like fuji and jùjú. He was known for blending these styles to create his unique genre, termed kpangolo, and the song "My Guitar," an homage to his favorite instrument, was heavily influenced by rock.

OTHER WORKS

Fashek had a supporting role in the 1999 Nollywood film Mark of the Beast and appeared in a commercial for the non-alcoholic beverage Diamalt. In 2016, he performed for an audience of over 10,000 at a comedy show hosted by Ayo Makun at Eko Hotel Hall in Lagos.

In November 2016, Fashek contributed the song "We Are Not Afraid" to a video directed by former 10CC member Kevin Godley, featuring over 200 celebrities, including 53 members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, to raise funds for the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Human Rights Watch (HRW).

PERSONAL LIFE

Fashek was married to Rita Fashek, who inspired the song "Without You." The couple had four children but later divorced. In 2015, it was revealed that Fashek was bankrupt and battling drug addiction. After admitting he needed help, he entered a drug rehabilitation center in Abuja, where he recovered and returned to music.

DEATH 

In addition to his struggle with drug addiction, Fashek faced other health issues that necessitated hospitalization on several occasions. Rumors of his death circulated in September 2019, but his manager confirmed that he had been critically ill, hospitalized at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in London, and in urgent need of financial assistance. Billionaire businessman and philanthropist Femi Otedola pledged to cover all of the singer's medical expenses.

Fashek passed away in his sleep on June 1, 2020, in New York City. He was 57 years old and was battling esophageal cancer.