One of Nigeria’s reggae music legends, Majekodunmi Fasheke, popularly called Majek Fashek, is dead.
Aged 57, he died in a hospital in New York in the late hours of Monday June 1.
His death was confirmed in a short video by his manager Omenka Uzoma, on the late singer’s official Instagram handle.
“Today been having pressure calls, well it is true that the African No 1 legendary icon has gone to be with the LORD his Maker.
“Let celebrate him, his achievements, and his family, whatever decisions made by his immediate family will be notified,” he said.
Majek, born in Benin-City, Edo state, took Nigeria’s music industry in the 80s by storm.
The musician who has for a long while been battling with his health was said to have died in the United States on Monday June 1.
Born Majek Fashek was renowned for hits such as ‘Send Down the Rain’ and ‘So Long Too Long’. He performed the latter on ‘Late Night with David Letterman’.
Fashek began his music career in the 80s when he was a member of Jastix group.
He was known then as Rajesh Kanal.
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.
Fashek’s fame peaked in 1988 when he released the album ‘Prisoner of conscience’.
It fetched him six PMAN awards including ‘Song of the Year’ for the song ‘Send down the rain’.
Unlike musicians of his time who were drawn to indigenous hybrids such as Juju and Fuji, Fashek was recognised as one of the original Nigerian artists to be drawn to reggae music genre which originated from Jamaica.
In 2019, Fashek who struggled with drug addiction was rumoured dead but his manager quelled the rumours by confirming his critical health condition.
Billionaire Femi Otedola pledged to cover his medical bills.
