The Rainmaker
The year was 1987 and drought gripped Nigeria. In an outdoor performance, Majek Fashek sang, “Send Down the Rain,” beconing the skies to open up and relieve the drought… midway through the performance, rain began to fall ending one of the worst droughts in Nigerian history.… Or so the story goes… it is unclear how close this “story” is to the truth or if in fact it’s an embelishment, but it’s worth looking at a few issues:
1) Nigeria is a large country with vastly varrying vegitation - from mangrove and rainforest in the south to the arid to semi-arid savanah in the north. It’s hard to imagine drought in the tropical south. Drought is more likely to strike in the savanah regions of the central and northen states, yet sources claim, “drought plague[d] Lagos and surrounding area.” I can’t say I remember that one.
2) I nor anybody I spoke with seems to remember a 1987 drought in Nigeria nor any notable drought in recent history… perhaps in 1991?
I guess we won’t have a definitive answer on the real story - if you have information on this, please do share.
For now, listen to the brilliant, “Send Down the Rain,” one of Majek’s biggest hits, both internationally and abroad. First published on the Prisoner of Conscience [Mango 1989] album. This version is from the 1991 release “Spirit of Love.”
July 20th, 2005 at 10:06 am
listening to the song now (i guess i’ll listen to all the songs on the site). man i gotta give it to u. good job for this site. i got your back 100%. peace! Naija for ever!
July 22nd, 2005 at 8:12 pm
Thanks for the nice words trae - much appreciated! We’re trying…
December 6th, 2005 at 11:11 am
YEAH! YOU ARE DOING A AWESOME TASK HERE KEPT IT UP BRO?
AS FAR AS THE RAIN/RAINMAKER STORY I DOUBT THERE IS MUCH TRUTH TO IT . I WAS BACK HOME IN LAGOS THEN AND TO MY BEST KNOWLEDGE IT RAINED LIKE HELL! BUT THE SONG WAS A GREAT IT THEN AND I STILL HAVE HIS CDS PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE ETC. AND I STILL LOVE MAJEK
January 29th, 2006 at 7:26 pm
excellent majek one the top five nigerian artistes of all time
May 29th, 2006 at 10:00 pm
Its sad looking at Nigerias reggae scene today compared to the 90″s ,most of the pioneers are either out of the game or tired ,or maybe have been drowned in the hip-hop fever. i remember majek,mandators,daniel wilson,oritz williki,amos mcroy.rasta black rice,sweat band,evi-edna,felix duke.lt shotgun, d list is endless what happened 2 these guys or nigerian reggae? must a style of music die to give birth to another?
October 18th, 2006 at 5:45 pm
ESTOY BUSCANDO A DANIEL WILSON ARGENTINO HIJO DE ANA BATTAGLIA Y DANIEL WILSON QUE RESIDE EN ESTADOS UNIDOS QUISIERA SABER SI ES EL QUE USTEDES CONOCEN ?
DESDE URUGUAY GRACIAS
MARCELA.
November 28th, 2006 at 12:20 pm
I was 7 years old then, I don’t remember any drought happening in Naiga. Maybe, because I was living in PortHarcourt at that time. I keep thinking, that It could be that I was too small to understand what a drought is.All I can remember as a child, was the fact that “Send Down the Rain” was always played on TV and radio, when ever it started rainning. there was also a rumour, that where and when ever Majek was performing, the rains would pour down. Only God Almighty knows the truth. Oye gara leteh!!!
January 24th, 2008 at 3:09 am
there was never a drought in niaja at that time,na lie dem dey lie, i was in secondary school then and majek was a phenomenom,we followed him anywhere he had shows i even performed on stage with him in GOVT COLLEGE Makurdi, Benue state during the MAMSER tour but NO DROUGHT DAT ONE NA LIE DEM DEY LIE,it was just coincidence that there was serious rainfall that period and it wasnt Majek’s doing