Reggae star Fantan Mojah passes away

The music fraternity is reeling from the news last evening that popular Rastafarian dancehall artiste and roots reggae singer, Fantan Mojah, has died.

His former manager, Ray Stephen, confirmed to THE STAR that the artiste passed away on Tuesday while a patient at the University Hospital of the West Indies. He was 49 and would have celebrated his 50th birthday on August 5.

“He was in hospital for a little bit ... and he died earlier today,” Stephen said last night. “He had the heart condition, and he was really trying to tek better care of himself ... Fantan did stop smoke and dem tings.”

Fantan Mojah made headlines in July 2024 when he had a health scare while in Martinique where he was booked to perform at the Reggae Therapy Festival. He was hospitalised after suffering what was said to be  a severe heart and breathing condition. He subsequently made a positive recovery and went on to tour Europe and gave a commendable performance at Reggae Sumfest last year.

Producer Patrick Roberts remembered Fantan Mojah as one of the artistes who always gave freely of his time and talent to the annual Ghetto Splash.

“It is sad, sad, sad. In addition to sending condolences to the family and the fraternity, I have a serious message to the industry ... mi a ask mi fellow industry people from yuh reach 40 do a full executive every year,” Roberts said.

“Do a full check on your health. We as man love to be too macho ... we need to take the check and balances and our health. At the end of the day, when all the glory is over, we leave a family to mourn because of our negligence. Fantan has not reached his prime time in the industry ... and mi feel it seh him drop out just so.”

Fantan Mojah, whose given name was Owen Lennox Moncrieffe, went by the stage name ‘Mad Killer’ as a tribute to Bounty Killer. His Wikipedia bio states that after embracing the Rastafarian faith, he adopted the name Fantan Mojah and shifted his focus to conscious, uplifting lyrics about Jah, morality, and respecting women.

Fantan Mojah began recording with DownSound Records in 2004, and their first release, Hungry, shot to the number one position locally and stayed for eight weeks straight. In 2005, Fantan Mojah’s debut album Hail the King was released. It features popular singles like the title track, Nuh Build Great Man featuring Jah Cure and Corruption. On November 19, 2008, he released his second album Stronger, which featured the massive hit single of the same name. This album secured his position as one of the major conscious reggae artistes on the rise.

However, Fantan Mojah courted major controversy when he moved away somewhat from his roots-reggae Rastafarian sound to raw dancehall. His controversial singles, such as Fire King (2021) sparked intense backlash from religious leaders and fellow artistes alike. The suggestive music video and raunchy lyrics shocked listeners because it strayed far from his previously established Rastafarian values.