02/05/2024
Biography of Majek Fashek
Majekodunmi Fasheke , popularly known as Majek Fashek (pronounced as Ma-je-ko-dun-mi Ifa-kii-she-eke ), 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".
Also known as The Rainmaker , he has worked with various artists worldwide, including
Tracy Chapman, Jimmy Cliff, Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg, and Beyoncé .
Fashek was born in Benin City to an
Edo Old Bendel State mother and a Ijesha father,(Osun State, 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.
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 .
1988–1990: Prisoner of Conscience and I&I Experience
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 for "Song of the Year", "Album of the Year", and "Reggae Artist of the Year" among others.
To be Continued: by CareerLink.Tv
