‘He took the world by storm’ — Obaseki mourns Majek Fashek

Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state, has mourned Majek Fashek, a Nigeria-born reggae musician and songwriter, who passed away at the age of 58.

News that the singer, whose real name is Majekodunmi Fasheke, breathed his last took the showbiz industry by the grip on Tuesday.

“I’ve been having pressure calls from all over.  Yes, it is true that the legend has gone to meet with the lord. This time, I want to say we should all celebrate him, his achievement,” Omenka Uzoma, his manager, wrote.

“He has done a lot for Nigeria, Africa. Whatever the family decides, It will get to you. This is all I have to say for now.”

Taking to Twitter to join a deluge of other Nigerians who have since been paying tributes, Obaseki described Fashek as a maverick musician who took the world by storm with his “enigmatic talent.”

“I mourn the death of quintessential, maverick musician and Edo son, Majek Fashek,” he wrote.

“Fashek, who took the world by storm with his enigmatic talent, remains one of the finest cultural icons of his age and would be remembered for his disarming craft and skill.”

I mourn the death of quintessential, maverick musician and Edo son, Majek Fashek.

Fashek, who took the world by storm with his enigmatic talent, remains one of the finest cultural icons of his age and would be remembered for his disarming craft and skill.

— Godwin Obaseki (GGO) (@GovernorObaseki) June 2, 2020

Born in Benin to an Edo mother and an Ijesha father, Fashek’s music career had set off after he joined the choir in his local Aladura church where he learned to play the trumpet and guitar.

With a slew of hits to his name, he was acclaimed to be the best in his home country for ‘Prisoner of Conscience’, his 1988 hit album, which birthed ‘Send Down the Rain’, a multiple award-winning single.

Also known as The Rainmaker, he has worked with a number of renowned artistes worldwide including Tracy Chapman, Jimmy Cliff, Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg, and Beyoncé.