Fantan Mojah Dies
Jamaican reggae singer Fantan Mojah has died at the age of 49, just three weeks before what would have been his 50th birthday.
He passed away on Tuesday evening at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston, following complications related to his heart.
Booking agent Vertex, who was close to the singer, said his condition had worsened suddenly in the days before his death.
He explained that Mojah had seemed well after returning from a trip to the United States, but that he began to deteriorate over the following week and was admitted to the hospital, before losing his life the following night.
Born Owen Lennox Moncrieffe on 5 August 1976 in White Hill, St Elizabeth, Jamaica, the singer had endured serious health difficulties in recent years.
In July 2024, he was hospitalised in Martinique after suffering severe breathing difficulties and chest pains, with doctors finding his heart was operating at only around 15 per cent capacity.
He appeared to defy the odds, however, and by early 2025 reports described his health as steadily improving, allowing him to resume touring across Europe.
His death comes as a particular blow to fans, as he had reportedly been preparing to perform at this year’s Reggae Jam Festival in Germany, having recently secured the visas needed for the trip.
Fantan Mojah’s journey to reggae stardom began far from the stage.
Before making his name as a recording artist, he worked as a window washer and later honed his craft performing at sound checks for a travelling sound system, initially under the name Mad Killer.
His embrace of Rastafari transformed both his outlook and his music, and it was reggae elder Capleton who encouraged him to adopt the name by which the world would come to know him.
Signed to Downsound Records, he rose to prominence in 2004 with the single “Hungry,” which topped the Jamaican charts for eight consecutive weeks.
His 2005 debut album, “Hail the King,” cemented his reputation, producing further hits including the title track and “Nuh Build Great Man,” a collaboration with Jah Cure.
The album’s success opened the door to consecutive European tours and a growing international audience.
A firm favourite on the Zimbabwean reggae circuit
Fantan Mojah’s music travelled far beyond the Caribbean, and Zimbabwe was among the countries where his brand of conscious, Rastafari-inspired reggae struck a particular chord.
He toured the African continent in 2011, performing to an enthusiastic crowd at the Lion Lager Festival in Zimbabwe, where his message of faith and resilience resonated strongly with local reggae and dancehall audiences.
His visit placed him in the company of a select group of Jamaican reggae royalty to have graced Zimbabwean stages over the years, among them Buju Banton, Sizzla Kalonji, Morgan Heritage, Luciano and Beenie Man, a lineage stretching back to Bob Marley’s historic performance at Rufaro Stadium during the country’s Independence celebrations in 1980.
For Zimbabwe’s reggae faithful, many of whom hold a deep spiritual and cultural connection to Rastafari, Fantan Mojah’s appearance was more than a concert.
It was a moment of shared identity, and it left him with a loyal following in the country that endured long after he returned home.
Tributes have continued to pour in from across the reggae world following news of his death.
Fantan Mojah is survived by at least five children.
He leaves behind a body of work that championed faith, resilience and the enduring spirit of Rastafari, themes that continue to resonate with fans from Kingston to Harare.
Some of his biggest hits include global reggae anthems like “Rasta Got Soul,” “Stronger,” “Most High Jah,” “Never Give Up,” “Thanks & Praise,” and “Heavenly Throne.”
