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. 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". He worked with Tracy Chapman, Jimmy Cliff, Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg, and Beyoncé.

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
Associated acts	Jastix Monicazation

Musical Career

In 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.