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Top tracks from this artist:
 | Majek Fashek
I Am Not Afraid |  | |
| Majek Fashek
Label: Blue Pie Productions
Artists Genre: Urban
Majek Fashek is one of the increasing number of
African artists to be drawn to the music of the
Caribbean, specifically reggae, rather than indigenous
hybrids such as fuji, juju or highlife. Having grown
up in a fervently religious and musical family, he was
exposed to the imported sounds of Bob Marley at an
early age, alongside the innovations of local stars
such as Fela Kuti.
After learning to play the guitar he made his first
notable appearance on a television show in the early
80s, before spending the rest of the decade touring
Nigeria with the Mandators. He left that group in 1987
and quickly fashioned a solo career that made him
Nigeria's biggest reggae star. Following the receipt
of no less than six awards at the annual PMAN
ceremony, he was signed to CBS Nigeria in 1988.
However, soon afterwards he transferred to Island
Records" subsidiary Mango, a label more accustomed to
marketing reggae internationally. His first album for
the company included acover version of Marley's
"Redemption Song". It saw him begin to rival Alpha
Blondy as Africa's foremost reggae star.
America few years ago, the dark clouds seem to have
rolled over.
Majek had joined international stars like Jimmy Cliff
and Tracy Chapman on a tour of major American cities,
performing and drawing accolades to himself. But no
sooner had the tour ended than the “ Rainmaker”
fizzled out of the scene: He had been hooked on drugs,
the mind-bending substances. However, after about a
decade in limbo, Majek literally “resurrected” last
Christmas in a jam at the Temple Bar, Santa Monica,
Los Angeles.
African reggae star Majek Fashek has been called a
prophet and a poet, and has become one of Africa's
greatest singers and musicians with his powerful world
beat sound.
His new album Little Patience on the Coral Music label
is in many ways Fashek's masterwork - the culmination
of his life's extraordinary journey. With powerful and
provocative songs like the soulful "Power of a Woman,"
or the inspiring "Someday One Day," it is a remarkable
collection that incorporates Majek's core influences
of Bob Marley, Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Jimi Hendrix.
He seamlessly meshes roots, rock, reggae and Afrobeat
into a unique signature sound called kpangolo. Majek
describes it as "the sound of many cultures coming
together."
Majek Fashek has always sung from the soul about the
political and social struggles he has faced in his
long and winding road from Nigeria to the U.S. He
first attracted international attention in 1987 when
his song, "Send Down The Rain" seemed to coax a rain
storm that ended one of the worst droughts in Nigeria'
s history. Performing at an outdoor theater, he saw
the thirsty crowd yearning for just a few drops of
water. No one could imagine the possibility of a
downpour, but as Majek sang the lyric "the sky looks
misty and cloudy: it looks like the rain's gonna fall
today," clouds gathered in the sky, thunder cracked
and rain soaked the barren ground.
Since that momentous occasion, Fashek has become one
of Africa's most revered contemporary musical
performers, rivaling compatriots Alpha Blondy and
Lucky Dube in recognition and popularity around the
world.
Majek was born "Majekodunmi Fasheke" in Benin City,
once the center of the ancient Sini kingdom. He
inherited his love of music from his mother, an Edo
woman who raised him following the death of his father
when he was eleven years old. A businesswoman, who
supplied concrete to road contractors, she inspired
him through her participation in traditional religious
ceremonies where the Olokun rhythms were used to
accompany worship of the river goddess. As a
youngster, Fashek played maracas during the
ceremonies.
Whether playing maracas and congas as a child at these
religious events or singing and playing guitar as a
reggae superstar, Majek has always been "on a mission"
to deliver God's message through his music.
While he developed an early interest in Jamaican
riddims, Fashek was equally drawn to the music of
Indian cinema. Learning to play guitar while in
secondary school, Fashek joined a band called Jah Stix
and, after graduating from the New Era College's Arts
Program, he began playing in Lagos nightclubs,
universities and even prisons. Majek also worked as an
A&R man, helping local musicians like the Mandators
and Ras Kimono.
In 1987, he embarked on his solo career and soon
became Nigeria's biggest reggae star. After winning
six awards at the annual PMAN ceremony, he was signed
to CBS Nigeria, but soon transferred to Island
Records? subsidiary Mango, a label more accustomed to
marketing reggae internationally.
His debut solo album Prisoner Of Conscience,released
in 1988, sold more than 200,000 copies in Nigeria
alone. It was followed by "Spirit of Love" a year
later, produced by the inestimable Little Steven. The
Best of Majek Fashek was released in the UK in 1994,
incorporating much of Majek's classic African
material, and in 1997 Rainmaker was released on Tuff
Gong International.
On Little Patience, Majek's acid tongue and sharp wit
offer insightful and powerful lyrics over fresh
Afro-reggae grooves. He combines so many types of
music because as he says, "when the styles blend
together, music can free the world."
"When there is too much hustle in life," Majek
observes, "you've got to be patient and wait for your
time. You?ve got to pray and you've got to keep
working. Don't be lazy, but watch where you're going
-that's a little patience."
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MEDIA ABOUT MAJEK
Sunday Sun columnist, Ose Oyemendan, who watched the
concert live wrote that Majek “showed he still has a
connection with the drums. His voice still had that
ring of the glory years. But what stood out was his
stage presence.”
Few months ago, Majek’s new CD, “Little Patience” was
released on Coral Music label in America. The
11-tracker that has been enjoying generous airplay in
Nigeria, parades hit songs like “I Am Not Afraid”,
“Water No Get Enemy”, a remix of Fela’s song of same
title, “Josiah”, King of Kings”, Ovbiye”, “Man of
Sorrows”, “Little Patience” and “Joe Lamentation”, a
track dedicated to his late brother, Joe Fabro.
Indeed, “Little Patience” is vintage Majek. It proves
that the reggae artiste is still in control of his
music despite the long years in the doldrums. What is
more, the title track, “Little Patience” is a
testimony to Majek’s ability to carry his fans along
as he wails: “If you have faith, you can move
mountains: all you need is a little patience. Don’t
worry my brother, don’t worry my sister, don’t worry
my friend. Jah has done it.”
Yet, exuding confidence, in “I’m not afraid”, Majek
croons: “Even though I walk through the valley of sin,
I’m not afraid…Jehovah guide I.”
According to Majek, the inspiration for “Little
Patience” came a few years ago while peeping through
the window of his Maryland, Lagos home and spotted a
little girl who was hawking oranges in the scorching
sun. He recalled: “I was touched. I called her and
gave her some money. I told her to go home. ‘You will
make it one day my sister. Just have a little
patience.’ Then the song came to my mind. It is a song
of hope.”
Majek added: “This is one of my best works. In fact,
the best because I am coming from the wilderness after
a long while. Now, my music is stronger and better.”
Only recently, Majek featured at the 27th edition of
Harmony Music Festival in Santa Rasa, San Francisco. A
Nigerian artiste, Charles Novia, who watched the show,
said the musician had worked the audience to frenzy
with a blend of his old and new songs.
Responding to a question concerning his health, Majek
said he was okay but confessed that his career had
almost gone down the drain before it was retrieved by
Coral Music boss, Charlie D’Agastino: “I’m okay. I was
almost gone but thank God for Charlie D’Agastino who
believed in me and helped me out of the darkness. No
black man can do for me what Charlie did…Even my own
brother left me to my fate but Charlie has brought my
music and message back to the people.”
Corroborating Majek, D’agastino, who doubles as his
manager, said: “Majek is 100 per cent okay. Can a mad
man record a coherent album like this? Majek is the
first musician in this 21st Century that has evolved a
new genre of music. The world has never seen anything
like this since Bob Marley and Fela.”
Born in Benin, Edo State, Majek began music at a
tender age. After his secondary education, he joined a
band, which became defunct. The fair-complexioned
musician later teamed up with friends to form a reggae
band, Jastix Ital that went round the country
performing in various prisons before splitting in
1987. Majek then went solo and in 1988 released his
debut, “Prisoner of Conscience”, which became an
instant hit.
Majek earned the nickname, “Rainmaker” because of his
track: “Send Down the Rain” that became prophetic and
later won him four awards at the maiden PMAN awards in
1989. The same year, Majek released his second album,
“I & I Experience” and followed it up with “So Long,
Too Long”. His last album before disappearing from the
scene was “The Rainmaker”.
However, there is no place like home. After his
sojourn in America, Majek, we hear, is eager to return
home. He reportedly said: “I miss home. I am coming to
Nigeria with a special message in November.”
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