Majek Fahek's family launches appeal to raise money needed to fly his body back to Nigeria

MAJEK Fashek's family have launched a fundraising campaign aimed at raising enough finance to fly the  body of the reggae artist back to Nigerian from the US where he passed away earlier this month.

On June 2, Majekodunmi Fasheke, famously known as Majek Fashek, passed away while in the US after years of  ill health. Majek, 57, best known for the 1988 album Prisoner of Conscience, which included the multiple award-winning single Send Down the Rain, worked with various artists worldwide including Tracy Chapman, Jimmy Cliff, Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg, Beyoncé and Danny Erskine.

In 2015, it was revealed that Majek 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.

However, besides his struggle with drug addiction, other health conditions required Majek's hospitalisation on several occasions. Last year, Majek was hospitalised at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, London in the UK and on June 2 this year, he died in his sleep in New York City, while battling esophageal cancer.

Now, Majek's family have made public plea for financial assistance to fly his body back home for his funeral. Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, the former member of the House of Representatives, representing Egor/Ikpoba Okha Federal Constituency and owner of U&I Records, made the call on behalf of the family on Friday.

According to Mr Agbonayinma, Majek is a legend and Africa’s pride and thus cannot be allowed to be buried like an ordinary mortal. He added that there is a committee being set up to take charge of setting up a Nigerian account for the late singer.

Mr Agboyayinma said: “ With the support of the family and the children, we are looking at how we can bring him to Nigeria to be buried here. This is going to cost quite a lot of money, especially with the challenge of Covid-19, so, we are trying to raise funds.

"The only account we have right now to be donated to, is the senior son’s account, Randy. Making this public is not my decision alone, some people came and said we should set this up and they said we should set up account in America and Nigeria.

"We want him to be buried here in Nigeria, his fatherland and not in some foreign land like a chicken. In Nigeria, we are still trying to decide which account to use but the American account of the first son is ready and people are already paying into it. I must commend the response, which has been encouraging but we need more funds.”

. “In the meantime, people can pay to the American account of the son. We just have to bring Majek home for proper burial.”

He added that the eldest son’s American account is: Citi Bank Name on Account : Randy Fashek Routing # 021000089 Account #6799745106 Bank Address – 00122 Laguardia place New York NY 10012 Bank Phone # 7184041275. Cash App: $ranfashek Venmo @Ran_Daman.