How Majek Fashek, One of Nigeria’s Legends Became the Biggest and the Least

You know, this life ehn like King Sunny Ade says, ‘’Atori laye, to ba lu si wa ju, a tun lu se yin’’ can be very unpredictable. Sometimes, it’s just very humbling. Ironically, being mere mortals that we are, our decisions, steps and relationships are at the mercy of higher beings that may or may not interfere when we are getting it right or wrong. For many who think they own themselves and can do whatever they like may learn a thing or two from the story of Majekodunmi Fasheke, Nigeria’s best reggae legend.

Majekodunmi Fasheke popularly known as Majek Fashek was born in Benin City, Edo state in the early 60s. His father was Yoruba (Ijesha) while his mother was Edo. Growing up, he loved music. As a church boy like his mother, he learnt how to play different musical instruments and subsequently became multi-talented. He also composed different songs for the aladura (white garment) church choir he belonged. But his major instrument was the lead guitar. In the 80s, he joined a music group with his friends and called the name Jah Stix. At the time, his stage name was Rajesh Kanal. The band became famous in Benin as an ìn-house band on NTA Music Panorama show. A phase you might want to call “unfolding”. Gradually, he started blowing minds with his deep and powerful voice and guitar which did lots of magic on stage. His message was powerful. His music was undoubtedly spiritual. From tracks like, ‘’Little Patience’’, ‘’Holyspirit’’, ‘’Send Down the Rain’’, etc. people could tell he was different and somehow still bore the resemblance of Bob Marley. Another thing people loved about his music was the way he Africanised reggae by infusing it with lots of Nigerian vibes: local musical instruments like talking drums and percussion.

Soon after, Majek moved to Lagos in other to find bigger opportunities. When he arrived Lagos, he got a job as a music promotion manager in a record label called Tabansi Record. Every other time, he impressed the label owner with his skills and voice. In a twist of fate, the label owner took a chance on him,  signed him and gave him the push he yearned for as an artiste. In 1988, he dropped his first album, ‘’Prisoner of Conscience’’ in honour of Nelson Mandela who had been imprisoned for donkey’s years. The album sold over a million copies at that time. It also  changed the game for him because it included the "Send Down The Rain" song that became the most populaŕ song all through the year. Rumour even has it that each time he got on stage and sang the song, rain fell. So because the album was doing well on the market coupled with the god-ike experience of the Caribbean people, he won many awards, got gigs to perform in many more parts of the world. He was the toast of top and international media houses: MTV, BET, BBC, etc. 

After his second album, ‘I and I Experience”, he had issues with Tabansi Record and they parted ways. Shortly after, CBS Records signed him and he released an album, “So Long, Too Long’’. That endeared him even more to people and bigger international labels. So the likes of Psquare, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Asake, and Davido are not the first set of artistes to enjoy attention from big players (international record labels) who have access to bigger markets. In 1990, Interscope Record signed him for $20 million with hopes that he would release five different albums on their stable. Who knows if he is still the only Nigerian artiste signed with such a huge amount? There could be surpassing figures though. 

As his fame grew, he chose a new path---a new lifestyle. He derailed. Some said it was because of the pressure of fame. Some said he couldn’t keep up. Some said he just wanted to feel among. Whatever it really was, even if it was spiritual, we may never know. But one thing we do know, however, is that he started drinking. Then he graduated into drugs on a large scale. He started missing shows. His decisions became irrational coated with erratic attitude. Then health issues crept in and many a time, he quarreled with his team. In a little while, like a bird descending from its highest altitude, his fame started to dwindle. By early 2000s, he was down to nothing. Homeless. Broke. And nothing but a junkie in US of A. What a sad tale you will say. 

In 2005, he tried a comeback. Nigerian media paid him little attention. Tu Face, Sound Sultan did their bit. Some promoters tried to help him facilitate his comeback by making him appear on TV shows, key events like Thisday Music Festival, Calabar Carnival, etc. In fact, charles Novia and Azuka Jebose of November Records went the extra mile to release his ‘'Little Patience'’ album to the African market after obtaining a license from Coral Music USA, owned by Charlie D’agostino and partying with lots of dollars. In the end, November Records didn't recoup their investment. Then Uncle Majek blew it up again. 

What was gone was gone. The fame was gone. The wealth was gone. The love remained though. Until his death in  2020 at 57, he couldn’t recover his health neither could he recover the fame. That notwithstanding, we can’t rule out the fact that his body of work out lives him anytime, any day.