THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Nigerian reggae singer Majek Fashek has been hospitalized at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in London, United Kingdom. Video clips of him in his hospital bed has gone viral, showing his pathetic situation.
Uzoma Omenka, the singer’s manager, told Premium Times, a Nigerian online newspaper, on Monday that the sexagenarian, was flown out of Nigeria when his health condition deteriorated.
Having paid his hospital bill, Omenka lamented they were currently stranded in the hospital and in need of urgent financial support that would cater for their feeding, transportation and other expenses.
“We have been to Nigerian High Commission in the UK and they said they have no funds and it is not their duty, you can’t imagine,” said Omenka.
Omenka however didn’t disclose Majek’s nature of ailment, but said that over N10 million (€25,000) had been spent before the singer was flown abroad.
He further stated that, “Majek has granted me permission to plead with his fans to assist him financially.
In 2005, Majek went bankrupt having suffered drug addiction for a long period of time. But, after he admitted he needed help at the time, he was treated at a drug rehabilitation centre in Abuja.
Majek is one of Nigeria’s surviving reggae music legends. He attracted international attention in 1987, when he sang a self-penned song, titled ‘Send Down The Rain’, which became a global hit.
In the 1980s, Majek Fashek earned his recognition on a television (NTA Benin) show as a member of a band called Jastix of which Ras Kimono and Amos McRoy Gregg were members. Evi Edna Ogholi also performed as an upcoming artist with the group.
In 1988, Majek released an album titled “Prisoner of Conscience” which include the song “Send Down The Rain” which became the most popular song of the year, and Majek too, became Nigeria’s top reggae artist.
In 1989, Majek Fashek won six PMAN (Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria) awards which included “Song of the Year”, “Album of the Year” and “Reggae Artist of the Year”.
Also known as The Rainmaker, Majek has worked with various artists worldwide, including Tracy Chapman, Jimmy Cliff, Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg, and Beyoncé.
The reggae singer and guitarist, whose real name is Majekodunmi Fasheke, was born in Benin City on 6 February 1949 to a Yoruba father and an Edo mother.
Raphael Adenaike
