Between Fashek and Dakolo, who’s telling the truth?

There has been accusation and denial between reggae legend and acclaimed ‘rain maker’, Majek Fashek, and R&B singer, Timi Dakolo. Fashek had in an interview with Punch, claimed that rave making Iyawo Mi singer, stole his hit single, Send Down the Rain.

Fashek said, “He broke the rules of copyright; he is a thief because in music business, he must take permission before he works on someone’s song. That is why we have COSON. I did not give anyone the right to do anything with my song. I have a management team I work with headed by Omenka Uzoma.”

“Dakolo never bothered to look for me before stealing my song. He has infringed on the laws of copyright and he is not an original artiste. It is only people like Tuface, Wizkid, Olamide that are original,” he added.

It will be recall that Dakolo in 2013, released a remix of the song, and had gone ahead to monetize it, but Fashek said Dakolo never took permission from him before doing the song, nor contacted him before performing it.

Reacting to the accusation through his Instagram handle @timidakolo, the Great Nation crooner, said he paid Fashek’s manager an undisclosed amount in a bid to do his own version of the evergreen song, Send Down the Rain.

He said, “My people, it saddens me to see such. I always try to do things rightly and lawfully. I paid his manager to remake the song, I got my invoice, I even mentioned to him during our rehearsals at the Headies. So, honestly I don’t understand this write-up. Oga Majek Fashek, I respect and love you; your voice gives life to lyrics. You are one of the best musicians I know. God bless you,” he posted

Commenting on the allegations, Fashek’s music business consultant, Omenka Uzoma, revealed that his team would soon carry out legal actions against those who have infringed on Majek’s copyright.

According to him, the rights to ‘Send Down the Rain’ as part of the ‘Prisoner Of Consicence’ album is with Tabansi Records [Nig] Ltd. In the UK, it is being managed by Mango Records, a sub-label of Island Records.

Born Majekodunmi Fasheke, Fashek attracted international attention in 1987, when his Send Down The Rain, seemed to coax a rainstorm that ended one of the worst draughts in Nigeria’s history.

Labeled a ‘Prophet’, the reggae star went on to become one of Africa’s greatest reggae-influenced performers. His debut solo album, Prisoner Of Conscience, released in 1988, sold more than 200,000 copies in Nigeria alone. The hit track ‘Send Down the Rain’ won six US-based PMAN Music Awards.

“I felt bad when I learnt that he worked on my song without my consent. He did not even give me credit. He is a very bad artiste and he took advantage of the circumstance that I was facing during that time. The song is not a normal song; it is a spiritual hit song,” Fashek said

He adds, “Timi Dakolo does not know how I suffered to get that song. I fasted for seven days before I got that song. I partook in three days ‘white’ fasting before the song came to me.  Timi Dakolo did not go through that. I did not fight him because I do not have time. Let God judge us.”