Majek Fashek has claimed that Timi Dakolo stole his hit single, ‘Send Down the Rain.’
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Majek Fashek: 'Timi Dakolo stole my 'Send down the rain' song' - legendary singer claims
“I felt bad when I learnt that he worked on my song without my consent.” Majek Fashek said. “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."
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Dakolo, in 2013, had released a remix of the song, and has gone ahead to monetize it, with the song currently listed on digital music stores as a single. But Fashek said Timi never took permission from him before doing the song, nor contacted him before performing the song.
“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.” Majek told Punch. “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.”
African reggae star Majek Fashek (born: Majekodunmi Fasheke) attracted international attention, in 1987, when his self-penned tune, "Send Down The Rain," seemed to coax a rain storm that ended one of the worst draughts in Nigeria' s history. Labled a "prophet", Fashek 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. His song ‘Send down the rain’ was a hit, and he won six US-based PMAN Music Awards.
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“I felt bad when I learnt that he worked on my song without my consent.” Majek continued. “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. 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.”
Also commenting on the allegations, Majek 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 iTunes, 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 sublabel of Island Records.
Pulse has reached out to Timi Dakolo, but received no response.
Dakolo made a post on his Instagram on Saturday, July 2, 2016, where he refuted claims that he remixed the singer’s hit song without his permission.
According to the R&B singer, he paid Fashek’s manager an undisclosed amount in a bid to do his own version of ‘Send down the Rain’.
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ALSO READ: Timi Dakolo is a thief, reggae legend says
Reacting to the accusation, he said, “My people, it saddens me to see such. I always try to do things rightly and lawfully,” Dakolo, who is also a judge on The Voice Nigeria, said in an Instagram post.”
“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.”
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