In those days, Majekodunmi Fasheke, wasn’t called the rainmaker for nothing. His performances were so ecclesiastical that the rains pour down when he signs off the stage with his “Send down the rain” song. But that glory soon faded and the man who beckoned the heavens and got answers couldn’t keep himself off drugs. He suffered, he got rehabilitated and now he is a changed man. EDIALE KINGSLEY tells of the good news, Majek Fashek is back.
IT may as well be the greatest news of the year. Few nights ago, Nigeria’s legendary reggae artist, Majek Fashek, graced the stage at the Afropolitan Vibes at Freedom Park in Lagos to the delight of his fans. The show was his seventeenth (but the first major outing) since he left a rehabilitation centre in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, where he was treated for addiction to drugs. Fashek who looked healthier and fatter than he has been in recent years thrilled the crowd to some of his hit songs including Little Patience, Holy Spirit and Send down the Rain. The Benin City born-musician, who has worked with various artists worldwide including Tracy Chapman, Jimmy Cliff, Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg, and Beyoncé, had a showmanship that rained down goose pimples all over the crowd of worshippers. They came to seek the reggae god. They found him in his new skin. His performances were so on point that all that attended the show could not but praise the rainmaker and the team responsible for his rehabilitation.
One fan had this to say, ‘Road to righteousness is narrow while road to destruction is widely open – Majek Fashek. The legend of raggae’. While another fan mused more ‘Listening to Majek Fashek holy spirit and the lyrics just kinda pulled me in. Am wondering how the man lost it’.
For your information, the rainmaker isn’t about to rest on his oasis. Seventeen shows gone by post-rehabilitation yet still counting, the kpangolo curator will yet stand in front of reggae fans at King Wadada’s show on Boxing Day. Reggae Alive will hold at the Atican Beach Resort in Lagos and it will be a reunion party for the likes of Raskimono, Majek Fashek and other icons of the dreadlock gig.
Many of his fans wonder if he isn’t rushed off rehabilitation. In the voice of Deji Toye, ‘I hope this gentleman is allowed full rehabilitation’. However, for those who enjoyed the blissful ministration of the icon, they see a man done with whatever it was that captured him.
Toni Kan, the prolific author and Samsung ambassador, made a Facebook post live from the event “Is Majek back? The rainmaker is killing it at Afropolitan vibes at freedom park. Nostagia has me twined on a post”. In response to his post another fan posted, “Majek is back, bro. Saw him recently at AFRICA meets Reggae Concert at Ember Creek and he was an awesome headliner God is good, but Majek must be kept on the leash. God loves him and deposited huge talents in him extravagantly”.
Trends had reported in detailed account as witnessed by King Wadada, the travails and anguish of the rainmaker sometime ago, before his eventual rehabilitation. “The last I heard about him is that his billionaire friend, Mr Ayiri Emami from Warri, came to pick him up for rehabilitation. I pray it works. God will take control and make the rehabilitation to be successful” Wadada had said.
In that report, Trends (Ediale Kingley) narrated Majek’s help, helpers and journey to the rehabilitation center. A lot of sacrifices went into the project. One of the most touching story line in that report was about how children and church members raised money for Majek. “At a point in time I took Majek to CMCM church in Akiode bus-stop before Grammar School bus-stop at Ojodu and the man of God ask me that what is Majek’s problem? Then I told him that he needs a home, shelter and that his sickness needs to be properly taken care off because he had nobody to run to and the pastor told his congregation to raise money for him. People started coming out to donate, even children. They were able to raise N1.6m”.
The fans are happy they got their icon back. The industry is glad to have the legend back on stage. They pray the Bob-Marley-Of-Our-Time is able to keep this new found grace. A second chance to life, a fan I saw sobbing adjacent to the Freedom Park stage where the icon performed, had this to say; ”I can’t help but shed these tears of joy…I wish it remains like this, his Holy Spirit rendition takes me off balance and I keep wondering why the devil wanted to destroy his life. Now he must keep the message straight…he must tell everybody that drug is evil”.