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Majek Fashek

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Birth name
  
Majekodunmi Fasheke

Associated acts
  
Jastix

Record label
  
Interscope Records

Labels
  
Interscope Records

Spouse
  
Rita Fashek (m. ?–2015)

Years active
  
early 1980s—present

Role
  
Singer

Occupation(s)
  
singer, songwriter

Name
  
Majek Fashek


Majek Fashek Don39t Take Me To Rehab Majek Fashek Cries Out


Albums
  
Rainmaker, Spirit of Love, Little Patience, I & I Experience

Genres
  
Reggae, Roots reggae, Rock music

Similar People
  
Steven Van Zandt, Charly Boy, Fela Kuti, Femi Kuti, Innocent Ujah Idibia

Profiles

Majek fashek s first stage performance at felabration2015 after recovery from rehab


Majekodunmi Fasheke, popularly known as Majek Fashek, is a Nigerian reggae singer-songwriter and guitarist. In his homeland he is best known for the 1988 album Prisoner of Conscience which included the single "Send Down the Rain", winning him several awards. Also known as The Rainmaker, he has also worked with various artists worldwide including Tracy Chapman, Jimmy Cliff, Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg, and Beyoncé.

Contents

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Early life

Majek Fashek Majek Fashek Jah Revelation Music Video 2011 YouTube

Fashek was born in Benin City to an Edo mother and a Yoruba father, but identifies with his Benin roots. Various translations of his name Fasheke (Ifa-kii-she-eke) include "high priest who does not lie", "powers of miracles" and "(system or medium of) divination does not lie" After his parents separated Fashek remained in Benin City with his mother, and soon joined the choir in his local Aladura church and learned to play the trumpet and guitar whilst composing songs for the choir.

Early 80's:Jastix

Majek Fashek Majek Fashek Biography amp History AllMusic

In the early eighties Fashek, who at the time went by the stage name Rajesh Kanal, joined the group Jastix with McRoy Gregg, and lead singer 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.

1988-1990:Prisoner of Conscience and I&I Experience

Majek Fashek afrobioscomuploads88330495b6c51db5e1f7258d21242

In 1988, shortly after Jastix disbanded Fashek, who now used the name Majek Fashek, signed with Tabansi Records and began a solo career by releasing the album Prisoner of Conscience and quickly became Nigeria's top reggae artist after the song "Send Down The Rain" became the most popular song of the year, and in 1989 he won six PMAN awards which included "Song of the Year", "Album of the Year", and "Reggae Artist of the Year". Fashek's next album was I&I Experience which was released in late 1989 under the Tabansi label.

1991:So Long Too Long and American invation

After leaving Tabansi Records, he was signed to CBS Nigeria in the early 1990s and released So Long Too Long. In 1990 he was signed to 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 in support of his new 1991 album, and performed the song "So Long Too Long" for the television audience. Flame Tree released The Best of Majek Fashek in 1994. He was later dropped by Interscope before moving to Mango, a division of Island Records, as it was more accustomed to marketing reggae internationally. His first album for the company included a cover version of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song". He has recorded several albums for various labels since, including Rainmaker for Tuff Gong (1997) and Little Patience for Coral (2004).

Musical style

Fashek's musical influences include Bob Marley - whom he resembles vocally - Jimi Hendrix, and Fela Kuti. He was one of the original Nigerian artists to be drawn to the music of the Caribbean, specifically reggae, rather than indigenous hybrids such as fuji, jùjú, but has been known to mix these genres into his own style which he calls kpangolo, and the song "My Guitar", an ode to his favourite instrument, was also heavily influenced by rock.

Other works

Fashek played a supporting role in the 2000 Nollywood movie Mark of the Beast, and starred in a commercial for non-alcoholic beverage Diamalt. He recently (2016) performed in a comedy show (with more than ten thousand audience in attendance) in Lagos, Nigeria, with a roundly power-filled and soul-lifting performance.

In December 2016 Fashek contributed 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).

Personal life

Fashek was married to Rita Fashek who inspired the song "Without You"; the couple had four children together, but have since divorced. In 2015, it was revealed that Fashek was bankrupt and battling drug addiction. After admitting that he needed help, he was admitted into a drug rehabilitation centre in Abuja where he is currently recovering. Majek has since recovered and he is back to making music.

References

Majek Fashek Wikipedia