News of the death of Majek Fashek, hit the world early morning on Tuesday and it sent shock waves all over. The music maestro was loved by reggae lovers, kids, youths and elders. His popular song, ‘Send Down The Rain’ became an anthem in Nigeria at one point. There was even a fable that followed that song: People believed that he was indeed a rainmaker because whenever that song is played, rain will fall! Funny isn’t it? Well, that was how loved this great musician was.
Majek Fashek’s family and meritorious music career
Majekodunmi Fasheke, popularly known as Majek Fashek was a singer-songwriter and guitarist. Fashek was greatly influenced by Bob Marley and he resembles him vocally and also in his lyrics.
Fashek was born in Benin City to an Edo State mother and an Ijesha, Osun State father but identifies with his Benin roots.
Majek, whose stage name is an abridged form of his full name, Majekodunmi Fashek, had quite a successful life and career.
Fashek was married to Rita Fashek who inspired the song ‘Without You’. The couple had four children together, but has since divorced and she has re-married.
Majek's ex-wife, Rita
He was best known for his 1988 album, Prisoner of Conscience, which included the multiple award-winning single ‘Send Down the Rain’. Also known as The Rainmaker, he has worked with various artists worldwide, including Tracy Chapman, Jimmy Cliff, Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg, and Beyoncé.
The song, ‘Send Down The Rain’ became the most popular song of the year, and in 1989 he won six PMAN awards for ‘Song of the Year’, ‘Album of the Year’, and ‘Reggae Artist of the Year’ among others.
In the early 2000s, he featured in some local film productions in Nigeria, including ‘Mark of the Beast’.
His last years on earth
In 2015, it was revealed that Fashek was bankrupt and battling with drug addiction.
After admitting that he needed help, he was admitted into a drug rehabilitation centre in Abuja, he recovered and returned to music.
Majek’s last few years on earth were filled with multiple allegations of excessive drug use and illness, most of which the artist publicly denied.
In 2019, there were rumours of his death, but he debunked them by confirming that he was receiving treatment at a rehabilitation centre on the outskirts of the Nigerian capital, Abuja.
In September, his publicist sought financial help from the public to help care for the Nigerian legend and that was how businessman Femi Otedola came into his life to help.
How Femi Otedola paid all his medical bills
It is really sad how people quickly rush to write RIP on someone’s social media platform when they die but refuse to identify with him when he was alive and in need of their help.
That was the pathetic story of the legend reggae musician, Majek Fashek. He had great friends in the music and entertainment industry but when he became sick, they quickly abandoned him and refused to identify with him. He was left stranded in a hospital in London with large bills to pay and needed help from his friends and none was there to help.
It was until his manager; Uzoma Omenka cried out on social media that the maestro needed public’s help to pay his medical bills that philanthropist, Femi Otedola came to his aid.
Majek on the hospital bed in London with his manager, Omenka Uzoma
Magnanimity is indeed a virtue this great billionaire business man, Femi Otedola possesses. Femi Otedola is widely perceived as one of the rarest and kindest of money men ever!
Giving without looking back is second nature to him. He is known to come to the aid of Nigerians who are in grave medical conditions and needed large amount of money and Majek Fashek was one of such persons who benefited from his milk of human kindness.
In 2019, news filtered in that the 'Rainmaker' crooner was stranded in a London hospital and needed the help of well-meaning Nigerians. Femi Otedola quickly contacted his Majek’s manager, Uzoma Omenka and arrangements were made on how to go about it.
The benevolent businessman, Femi Otedola decided to foot all the medical bills for the reggae music icon who was admitted at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, a London based hospital.
Uzoma Omenka, Majek's manager
According to Uzoma, immediately they heard that Otedola decided to foot all the bills, his so-called friends and family members crawled out from their hiding holes to identify with Majek because of the money donated for his medical bills.
He said after billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, pledged to take up Majek’s medical bills, he (Uzoma) came under intense attack on social media.
According to him, he was solely responsible for Majek’s upkeep in the last five years, where were these family members and friends when he was facing tribulations?
Immediately they read that Otedola promised to foot Majek’s bills, they rushed to the hospital accusing him of ‘eating’ the money. Unknown to them, Otedola paid directly into the hospital’s account and not to him.
He said he sent him an invoice and the hospital bills were sent to the hospital directly. Still, they weren’t convinced. They embarrassed him at the hospital, called him names simply because he refused to give them Otedola’s phone number and address. They even wanted to pit him against Majek’s son, Randy. Thankfully he was wise enough to see through them, he revealed. Omenka is one the few artists’ manger that stand with the artist when the chips are down unlike what we hear in the media these days.
Otedola's philanthropic nature
Otedola with Super Eagles coach Christian Chukwu
Otedola is widely known for his philanthropic actions to fellow Nigerians that need help, especially the sick. We cannot forget so soon how the businessman extraordinaire spent N36,635,000 for the medical bills of former captain and coach of the Super Eagles, Christian Chukwu. Chukwu had a major surgery and treatment at the Wellington Hospital, London and Otedola paid fully for his recovery.
Otedola also came to the aid of Peter Fregene, a former Green Eagles goalkeeper, who had been bedridden since 2001 in May 2018.
He is currently also footing the medical bills of popular actor, Victor Olaotan, a lead character in the popular TV soap opera series, Tinsel, in a Turkish hospital.
Otedola has also reportedly taken up the medical expenses of ailing Nollywood actor, Sadiq Daba.
Indeed Femi Otedola is a rare gem and we pray God to continue to bless his giving hands.
Majek’s death
Prior to his death, Majek was treated at a hospital in London for several months before he moved to the United States in January 2020 to be with his family.
He died on the 1st of June, 2020, aged 57 in a hospital in New York in the United States, after battling an unknown illness. His death was confirmed by his manager Omenka Uzoma, on the late singer’s official Instagram handle.
May his soul rest in peace!
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