About Majek Fashek

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,[8] he has also 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 mother and a Yoruba father, but identifies mainly 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" His real birth date is not known as both parents gave him contradicting months, and he would later adopt his musical hero Bob Marley's birthday - 6 February - as his own. After his parents separated he lived in Lagos with his father, a school principal who died when Fashek was ten; the latter moved back to Benin City with his mother, and soon joined the choir in his local Aladura church with his cousin future bandmate Amos McRoy Gregg and learned to play the trumpet and guitar whilst composing songs for the choir. 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.