By 21 Things To Know About Nigeria’s Rain Maker, Majek Fashek
As Nigerians continue to reminisce on the life and time of the legendary Reggae singer, Majek Fashek who died on June 2nd, 2020 at 57, BlackBox Nigeria brings you 21 things you may not about the “Send Down the Rain” crooner.
1 He was born Majekodunmi Folabee Shamsudeen Fasheke
2 He was born to an Ijesha father and an Edo mother, but he maintained his mother roots after his parents got separated as he was born in Benin City, Edo State.
3 His father’s name, Fasheke when properly pronounced “Ifa kii se eke” has a deep Yoruba meaning which is “god of divination does not lie”
4 Majek started his musical acts at his mother’s Aladura church where he learned to play trumpet and guitar, which later became his most used musical instruments.
5 His first stage name was Rajesh Kanal when he debuted in Music.
6. In the 80′, Majek along with McRoy Gregg and Drummer Black Rice formed a reggae group called Jastrix and were the in-house band on Music Panorama at NTA Benin.
7. He re-branded his stage name to Majek Fashek in 1988 when Jastrix got disbanded
8. In 1988, he got international recognition for his record hit “Send Down the Rain” which earned him the Rain Maker title.
9. He became Nigeria’s top reggae artiste after his record hit and was signed on to Tabansi Records where he released his first album, Prisoner of Conscience.
10. In 1989, he won 6 PMAN awards which included “Song of the Year”, “Album of the Year,” “Reggae Artist of the Year,” among other recognition he earned during the course of his first year in active music.
11. Majek‘s musical style was influenced by Bob Marley, whom at that time he resembles vocally.
12. He was also influenced by Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Jimi Hendrix.
13. Majek mixed the likes of the Caribbean reggae with his own style of genre which he called “Kpangolo”.
14. He played a supporting role in Nollywood movie titled Mark of the Beast in the year 2000.
15. Majek Fashek‘s career hit a rock in 2015 when news that he was bankrupt and battling drug addiction hit the public space. He admitted he needed help and was taking to a drug rehabilitation centre in Abuja. He recovered and returned to music
16. In 2016, he had an electrifying performance in a live comedy show which had thousands of audience in attendance in Lagos.
17. Also in 2016, Majek Fashek joined hundreds of celebrities and contributed to a musical video titled, “We Are Not Afraid” to raise funds for the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Human Rights Watch (HRW).
18. After his hospitalisation and recovery in 2016, he struggled with other health conditions in 2018 and was rumoured dead in September, 2019. The rumour was quelled by his long time Manager who disclosed that the musical icon was receiving treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich England.
19. It became public knowledge that Majek was in dire need of financial assistance, Nigerian billionaire and philanthropist, Femi Otedola pledged to cover all the singer’s medical expenses.
20. Majek Fashek was married to Rita Fashek. The couple had four children before they parted ways in a divorce.
21. His musical works included the sought after Prisoner of Conscience, which featured the multiple award-winnin tracks such as Send Down The Rain, Little Patience, Spirit of Love; I&I Experience, So Long Too Long, Rainmaker, Weep Not Children and Rasta Gangstar.
