‘King of Reggae’ Fantan Mojah Dies of Heart-Related Complications on Eve of His 50th Birthday at Age 49

A globally known reggae star from Jamaica who led the golden era of modern route reggae with a deep, spiritual voice and an uncompromising message, Fantan Mojah (Fantan Mojah; 49), died suddenly just weeks before his 50th birthday.

■ Sudden coughing up blood and worsening heart function… “He couldn’t even walk 30 meters”

According to overseas media reports on the 15th (local time), Fantan Mojah, whose real name is Owen Moncrieffe, died on Tuesday evening at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in Kingston due to complications related to a heart condition.

The late man’s agent, Vertex, said, “He looked in remarkably good health when he finished his trip to the United States and returned to Jamaica, but starting last week his condition deteriorated rapidly and he was hospitalized.” She added that “Right before his death, he suddenly began coughing up blood the night before, and then he finally closed his eyes.” Close associates also said, “Over the past few days, he had been struggling to breathe, and his health had collapsed so severely that he couldn’t even walk properly a distance of 30 meters.”

In fact, his heart problems had been ongoing for years. In July 2024, during a performance in Martinique, he was urgently transported to a hospital for severe breathing difficulty and chest pain. At the time, he received a diagnosis that his heart function was only 15% of normal, a near-death prognosis that sent shockwaves through the reggae community. Though he overcame it with superhuman resolve and made a dramatic return with stages across Europe in early 2025, he ultimately couldn’t cross the wall of accumulated heart complications and passed away at the young age of 50.

■ Myth of topping the charts for eight straight weeks… A veteran who led the reggae revival era in the 2000s

Having carried forward the souls of legendary reggae stars from the 1970s, Fantan Mojah burst onto the scene in the mid-2000s after signing with Dowsound Records, a prestigious Jamaican label at the time.

His signature track, “Hungry,” set an unprecedented record of No. 1 for eight straight weeks on Jamaica’s singles chart immediately after its release. And his landmark debut album, “Hail the King,” released in 2005, is regarded as one of the most complete route-reggae records in reggae history. Through hit songs such as “Nuh Build Great Man,” “Stronger,” and “Rasta Got Soul,” he sang about the religious spirituality and social exposé messages of Rastafarianism, as well as an unyielding hope for life, establishing himself as a global cultural ambassador.

In particular, he had recently thrown himself into the work with high motivation after landing a spot on the lineup for the ‘Reggae Jam Festival,’ set to be held in Germany, and after getting even the Schengen visa approved, finishing preparations to step back onto the global stage once again. Against that backdrop, this sudden death is hitting even harder in the hearts of music fans around the world.

■ The pop world is in deep sorrow… “The powerful flame of reggae has been extinguished”

After news of his death spread, Jamaica’s music industry and reggae musicians worldwide have been expressing deep condolences, saying, “The purest and strongest flame of reggae has gone out.” The late man’s family, who were recently known to be separated from his wife, have been confirmed to include five children. Specific funeral arrangements and any official statement from the bereaved family have not been announced yet.