Legendary Nigerian reggae icon Majek Fashek has died at the age of 57.
The news was revealed by his manager Omenka Uzoma who wrote: “Today been having pressure calls, well it’s true that the African No 1 Legendary ICON has gone to be with the LORD his maker. Let’s celebrate him, his achievements, and his family, whatever decisions made by his immediate family will be notified.”
Majek Fashek was born Majekodunmi Fasheke in February 1949 in Benin, Edo State, Nigeria. In the early 80s, he went by the stage name Rajesh Kanal and joined the group Jastix (with musicians McRoy Gregg and Black Rice). They gained popularity as the in-house band on the NTA Benin show Music Panorama.
In 1988, shortly after Jastix disbanded, Fashek (now using the name Majek Fashek) started his solo career after signing with Tabansi Records. He released the album Prisoner of Conscience.
Fashek’s debut album quickly made him Nigeria’s top reggae artist following the success of the song Send Down The Rain, which became the most popular song of the year at the time. In 1989, he won six PMAN Awards for Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Reggae Artist of the Year among others.
He went on to release three other albums (Spirit of Love (1991), Rainmaker (1997), and Little Patience (2005). His music was influenced by Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, and Fela Kuti.
Majek Fashek had a stint in acting with a supporting role in the 2000 Nollywood film Mark of the Beast.
