Nigeria’s minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed has come out to react to the death of legendary singer, Majek Fashek

He recently described the singer’s demise as a huge loss to Nigeria’s creative industry.

He then expressed his condolences to the late singer’s family and prayed for God to grant him peaceful rest.

R.I.P.

Majekodunmi Fasheke, popularly known as Majek Fashek (pronounced as Ma-je-ko-dun-mi Ifa-kii-she-eke) (March 1949 – June 1, 2020) 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 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, Western Nigeria) 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.

Fashek was married to Rita Fashek who inspired the song “Without You”; the couple had four children together, but later 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 recovered and returned to music.