Nigerian raggae legend, Majek Fashek has died at the age of 57.
This was announced by his manager Omenka Uzo who stated that he died at a New York hospital.
“I have been getting pressure calls, well it is true that the African No 1 Legendary ICON has gone to be with the LORD his Maker,” he said.
“Let celebrate him, his achievements, and his family, whatever decisions made by his immediate family will be notified.”
The singer was recently discharged at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in England after he fell terribly ill.
His bills were taken care of by billionaire Femi Otedola.
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 but recovered and returned to music.
