Martins Idakwo
Majekodunmi Fasheke, the Nigerian reggae music legend and firebrand Rasta who sang protest songs, spoke against police brutality, fought for the downtrodden, promoted ethnic and religious harmony, and actually brought down the rain, is dead.
He died on June 2, 2020. He died in the United States of America, where his son Randy had taken over his welfare.
“Today, I’ve been having pressure calls. Well, it is true that the African No 1 legendary icon has gone to be with the Lord, his Maker,” his long standing Manager had said.
‘’Let’s celebrate him, his achievements, and his family, whatever decisions made by his immediate family will be notified.” He added.
For those of us who adored Majek Fashek in the late 1980s and early 1990s, there are some part of his story that are not particularly palatable, but it is impossible to forget the footprints of the supremely talented singer and guitarist who sang so much joy into our ears.
Majekodunmi Fashek (Majek Fashek) who was born on February 6, in Benin City to Late Mr Emmanuel Olatunji Fasheke, an Osun state indigene and an Edo mother. His father was a former principal of Igbobi College, Yaba in Lagos.
The name ‘Fashek’ means ‘Power of Miracles, The high priest does not lie’
Majek Fashek’s parents separated when he was very tender, after which he left to live with his father in Lagos. His father died when he was just ten years old and so he went to live with his mother who was into business. She supplied concrete to road contractors in Benin city.
Fashek inherited his love for music from his mother who inspired him through her participation in traditional religious ceremonies where the Olokun rhythms were used to accompany the worship of the river goddess. He played the maracas during those ceremonies. He was interested in Jamaican music and music of the Indian cinema.
He learned to play the guitar while in Secondary school and soon joined a band, Jah Stix, going on to play in clubs in the then capital city of Nigeria (Lagos).
He was a Nigerian reggae singer, song writer and guitarist who attracted International attention when his song ‘Send down the rain’ seemed to coax a rain storm, ending one of the worst draughts in Nigeria’s history and just like Fela Anikolapo Kuti, it earned him the title ‘Musical Prophet’ and ‘Rain maker’.
His debut solo album ‘Prisoner of Conscience’ released in 1988, sold more than 200,000 copies in Nigeria alone.
“Bob Marley is my biggest inspiration,” Majek Fashek told reporters that Bob Marley’s family gave him 100,000 dollars when he lost the Interscope contract.
Fashek played a supporting role in the year 2000 Nollywood movie, ‘Mark of the Beast’ and starred in a commercial for non-alcoholic beverage, ‘Dia Malt’ in 2016.
He performed a comedy show in Lagos, Nigeria, with over ten thousand people in attendance and in December 2016, he contributed to the song ‘We are not afraid’ to a video featuring 200 celebrities to raise funds for the International Rescue Committee(IRC) and Human Rights Watch (HRW).
The musician battled drug addiction for years before he was taken to a drug rehabilitation centre in Abuja in 2015, he eventually ‘recovered’ and returned to making music.
He was married to Rita Fashek for whom he wrote the song ‘Without you’. They had four children but divorced before his eventual death.
Soon, Majek was getting disconnected from Nigeria as he toyed with the US market. His music was becoming more rock and less reggae as he tried to sell snow to an Eskimo.
It didn’t work well, at least in my opinion. He was a king back in Nigeria, headlining every concert, adored all over the nation. He was like a prophet — in fact; Mandela was released a few months after he released the hit song, ‘Free Mandela’.
His stock was on the rise, challenged on the pop scene only by Shina Peters’ ‘Afro juju’ series. And then, he relocated to America and the music basically diminished gradually.
But when the quest for the global stage did not work well for him, he didn’t quickly retrace his steps.
Nigerian artists, who are now penetrating the international market today, such as WizKid, Burna Boy and Davido, are exporting their music, not trying to assimilate into some US genre. America has enough R&B and rock artistes. It would be tough, taking those genres back to them. Fela Anikulapo-Kuti sold Afrobeat to the world. He did not try to sell them jazz.
He stubbornly refused to shorten his tracks as demanded by his marketers who wanted him to adopt his songs for more foreign airtime for commercial reasons. He created a space for himself.
Majek tried to blend but it did not work according to his plan. Today, you need not relocate abroad to break into the market. You can do it from home.
Majek was never a favourite of music critics, but became the most successful reggae artist in Nigerian history. He collaborated with other fantastic music icons during his career, including Chapman, Jimmy Cliff, Michael Jackson, Snoop Dog and Beyoncé.
However, things took a different turn as he went on a self-exile, which according to reports, were because of failing health and personal issues.
A few years ago, he bounced back into the music scene again and became a regular at selected shows.
Majek Fashek is best known for the 1988 album, ‘Prisoner of Conscience’, which included the multiple award-winning single, “Send Down the Rain”.
A Nigerian journalist, Abdul Abdul used a caption that caught my fancy and I’m obliged to share:
“It’s the raining season. It’s falling in torrents and you choose this time to transit to the land of the angels, where you belong”.
As usual, some celebrities have come to express their feelings over the death of the reggae music icon through different social media platforms. A lot of them had personal experiences with him while others just praised his singing prowess and music career.
Here are some of the reactions from popular celebs over the death of Majek Fashek:
Dr Sid recounts the time his parents attended a concert organized by the Late reggae icon and how he fell in love with his music immediately.
Kate Henshaw also shared some of her favourite songs by the music icon who according to her, remains an extraordinary and gifted musician.
Ruggedman advised those who have started playing Majek Fashek’s music on TV and radio to also remember to play those of older artists.
Bovi thanked Majek Fashek for his political and socially conscious music, which passed many good messages across. The comedian in a lengthy post via his Instagram page, pleaded with the music icon to pass across some messages to some people who have passed away.
Also mourning the death of the singer, politician, Sheu Sanni wrote: “Some years ago, I met Majek Fashek near a train station in New York before he returned to Nigeria. He was a shadow of the man many of us loved decades ago. Majek rode through a rough & dangerous terrain in Life. He tried to pick up & now he is gone. He was an unforgettable legend. RIP!
Just when the reggae community is yet to recover from the tragedy of your partner-in-song and comrade, Ras Kimono….
….Please make sure you greet Kimono for us and tell him Nigerians are still UNDER PRESSURE!
Fare thee well the rainmaker.
