Majek Fashek
Majekodunmi Fasheke, popularly known as Majek Fashek (pronounced as Ma-je-ko-dun-mi Ifa-kii-she-eke) (March 1963 – June 2, 2020) was a Nigerian singer-songwriter and guitarist.[1][2] He was best known in his home country for the 1988 album Prisoner of Conscience, which included the multiple award-winning single "Send Down the Rain".[3] He worked with Tracy Chapman, Jimmy Cliff, Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg, and Beyoncé.[4][5]
Majek Fashek | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Majekodunmi Fasheke |
| Born | March 1963 Benin, Edo State, Nigeria |
| Died | June 2, 2020 (aged 57) New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Reggae, roots reggae, rock |
| Occupation(s) | singer, songwriter, actor |
| Years active | 1980s-2020 |
| Labels | Interscope Records |
Musical Career
changeIn 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.
Majek Fashek attracted international attention, when his self-penned tune, “Send Down The Rain,” appeared to coax a rainstorm that ended one among the worst droughts in Nigeria's history.
Labeled a “prophet”, Fashek went on to become one among Africa’s greatest reggae-influenced performers. His debut solo album, Prisoner Of Conscience, released in 1988, sold quite 200,000 copies in Nigeria alone.
Fashek died in his sleep on 2 June 2020 in New York City from esophageal cancer, aged 57.[6][7]
References
change- ↑ Harris, Craig. "Biography – Majek Fashek". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
- ↑ Faosheke, John Olu (11 February 2007). "Majek Fashek's Ijeshaedo Roots Revealed". AllAfrica.com. AllAfrica Global Media. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
- ↑ "Nigeria: Rainmaker, Majek Fashek Re-Ignites Hope for a Comeback". allAfrica.com.
- ↑ 40 Minutes with the Rainmaker Archived 1 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Rainmaker, Majek Fashek Re-ignites Hope for a Comeback". Nigerian News from Leadership News. Archived from the original on 2016-02-21. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
- ↑ "Nigerian reggae legend Majek Fashek dies at 57". BBC News. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- ↑ "UPDATED: Music legend, Majek Fashek dies". Sequl Squid. June 3, 2020. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
This short article about a person or group of people can be made longer. You can help Wikipedia by adding to it.