Best of The Beat on Afropop: Reggae in Africa, Part Two--Majek Fashek and Nigerian Reggae

<p><a href="https://afropop.test.ejaedesign.com/migrated-uploads/2015/12/Beat92ReggaeNigeriaP1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-26817 size-medium" src="https://afropop.test.ejaedesign.com/migrated-uploads/2015/12/Beat92ReggaeNigeriaP1-226x300.jpg" alt="Beat9#2ReggaeNigeriaP1" height="300" width="226"></a><br></p><p>The second part of the "Best of The Beat" mini-series on reggae in Africa highlights Nigeria, with two articles by <em>The Beat</em>'s founding editor Roger Steffens. In the '90s, Lagos produced a wealth of homegrown music by artists like Tera Kota, said to be the first Nigerian reggae star, Victor Essiet and the Mandators, Ras Kimono, Majek Fashek, and reggae queen Evi-Edna Ogholi.</p> <p><strong>READ OR DOWNLOAD PDF HERE: <a href="https://afropop.test.ejaedesign.com/migrated-uploads/2015/12/Beat92.pdf" target="_blank">Beat9#2</a></strong></p> <p><a href="https://afropop.test.ejaedesign.com/migrated-uploads/2015/12/Beat101Majek1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-26821 size-medium" src="https://afropop.test.ejaedesign.com/migrated-uploads/2015/12/Beat101Majek1-230x300.jpg" alt="Beat10#1Majek1" height="300" width="230"></a><br></p><p>In 1991, Island Records released an album by Majek Fashek, <em>Prisoner of Conscience</em>, on the international market, and a U.S. tour was undertaken. His live show in Los Angeles was a revelation. Not only did he masterfully present roots reggae, but punctuated songs with a full juju breakdown by talking drums and euphoric dancing; at other moments the band would drop in thrash-punk, or a Jimi Hendrix-worthy "Hey Joe" complete with Majek playing the guitar with his teeth! In Roger's interview, Fashek relates the circumstances behind his legendary rain-making powers, and how reggae is a natural part of African music.</p> <p><strong>READ OR DOWNLOAD PDF HERE: <a href="https://afropop.test.ejaedesign.com/migrated-uploads/2015/12/Beat101Majek.pdf" target="_blank">Beat10#1Majek</a><br></strong></p> <p><a href="https://afropop.test.ejaedesign.com/migrated-uploads/2015/12/Beat101Majek3.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-26822 size-medium" src="https://afropop.test.ejaedesign.com/migrated-uploads/2015/12/Beat101Majek3-232x300.jpg" alt="Beat10#1Majek3" height="300" width="232"></a><br></p><p>Afropop's managing editor Atane Ofiaja offers his reminiscences of Majek Fashek as a youngster growing up in Nigeria:</p> <p><em>During my formative years in Port Harcourt, Nigeria in the '90s, Majek Fashek was one of the biggest music stars. He was unique to us not just because he was a reggae musician, but also because of his dreadlock hairstyle. We used to call people with dreadlocks&nbsp;"dada" in Nigeria, so he was the most popular "dada." His popularity skyrocketed when he appeared on "The Late Show" with David Letterman in 1992.</em></p> <p>[embed][/embed]</p> <p><em>Pidgin was the </em>lingua franca<em>, so in heavy pidgin, we would say things like </em>Dada Majek don land for obodo oyinbo, fashi amebo wahala, we sabi na igbo wey him dey light until he pafuka finish.<em> Loose translation: Dreadlocked Majek has arrived in the land of the white man, and ignoring gossipers and their trouble, we know that it's weed that he's smoking until he collapses.</em></p> <p>[embed][/embed]</p> <p><strong>You may also enjoy: <a href="https://afropop.test.ejaedesign.com/5472/wa-ho-ha/" target="_blank">Pazy and the Black Hippies</a></strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://afropop.test.ejaedesign.com/25929/the-beat-goes-on-intro/" target="_blank">ABOUT "BEST OF THE BEAT ON AFROPOP"</a></strong></p>