Tiken Jah was born into a family of griots and christened Doumbia Moussa Fakoly on June 23, 1968 in Odienne, north-western Côte d'Ivoire. He discovered reggae at an early age, assembling his first group, Djelys, in 1987. He became well-known at a regional level, but would soon ascend to national recognition.
Concerned by the social and political evolution of his country, it was not long before Tiken Jah was writing incisive works on the political environment in Côte d'Ivoire. One such work was on the death of Felix Houphouet-Boigny in 1993, which resulted in a surge of popularity amongst the nation's youth. In 1998, Fakoly made his first international appearance in Paris.
Tiken Jah Fakoly plays music "to wake up the consciences". His music speaks about many injustices done to the people of his country, and those over Africa. As such, African listeners feel a deep affinity with his lyrics as Fakoly speaks for people whom are under oppression. This connection has helped make Tiken Jah Fakoly a much-listened artist throughout both Europe and Africa.
Discography
1. 1993: Les Djelys (cassette only - discontinued)
2. 1994: Missiri (cassette only - discontinued)
3. 1996: Mangercratie
4. 1999: Cours d'histoire
5. 2000: Le Cameleon (exclusive to West Africa)
6. 2002: Françafrique (a term coined by Francois Xavier-Verschave)
7. 2004: Coup de gueule
8. 2005: Africa wants to be free, compilation to support fr:Survie (association)
NOTE: Mangercratie was released in France in 1999 and in Canada in 2000. Cours d'histoire was released in France in 2000 and in Canada in 2001. The first two albums were only released in Côte d'Ivoire.
Outside Projects
Tiken Jah Fakoly has recorded various tracks with other artists. He is featured on Steel Pulse: African Holocaust, on Rike: Airt Frais, on Bernard Laviliers: Carnet De Bord, on Amadou & Marima: Dimanche A Bamaco, on Dub Incorporation: Life, and on Tata Pound: Cikan. He also appears on the compilation African Consiences with Mebgane N'Dour. He will be featured in the upcoming movie Les Oiseaux Du Ciel, directed by Eliane De Latour.
Awards:
2003: Victoires de la Musique 2003, in the category of Reggae Album/Ragga/World with the album Françafrique.
Dernier Appel
Tiken Jah Fakoly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Du vol Africa
Dans cet avion il est écrit
Qu'on doit arrêter de demander
De demander
T'as vu London et Babylon
Dans cet avion il est écrit
Arrêtons de tendre la main
Qu'il faut travailler
Pour sortir ce continent du trou
C'est le dernier appel
Du vol Africa
Il faut embarquer
Embarquer
Embarquer pour Africa
Voici l'avion de nos espoirs
De l'avenir de nos gamins
De ce qui de leurs propres mains
voudront construire demain
Le jour de l'avion pas de retard
Je n'appel pas pour rien
Il est enfin que s'envole notre destin
C'est le dernier appel
Du vol Africa
C'est le dernier appel
Du vol Africa
Il faut se hâter
Se hâter
Puisque l'avion va décoller
Mes frères mes surs
Vous êtes tous invités
Pour cet avion pas de passeport
Aucun papier n'est demandé
Seulement votre volonté
De voir ce continent sauvé
C'est le dernier appel
Du vol Africa
Il faut embarquer
Embarquer
Embarquer pour Africa
The song "Dernier Appel" by Tiken Jah Fakoly is a rallying cry to the African people to take control of their own destiny and rise up from poverty and oppression. The lyrics speak of a final call for passengers to board the Africa-bound flight, a symbol of hope and opportunity for the continent. The song begins with the repetition of the phrase "C'est le dernier appel" or "This is the final call", indicating a sense of urgency and importance to this message.
The lyrics further explain that the airplane represents the hopes and dreams of the next generation, and that it is time for Africans to stop asking for help and instead work hard to improve their situation. The song addresses the idea of pan-African unity, with the invitation for all brothers and sisters to join together on this journey. The airplane is depicted as a vehicle for change, a way out of poverty and a symbol of future progress.
Throughout the song, the importance of action and initiative is emphasized. The need to "embark" on this journey is repeated, along with the warning that the "airplane will take off" soon. This creates a feeling of urgency and importance for the African people to take control of their own future.
Overall, "Dernier Appel" is a powerful message of hope and strength for the African continent. It calls out for unity, hard work, and initiative to build a better future for all Africans.
Line by Line Meaning
C'est le dernier appel Du vol Africa
This is the final call for the Africa flight
Dans cet avion il est écrit Qu'on doit arrêter de demander De demander T'as vu London et Babylon
On this plane, it's written that we must stop asking about London and Babylon
Dans cet avion il est écrit Arrêtons de tendre la main Qu'il faut travailler Pour sortir ce continent du trou
On this plane, it's written to stop asking for handouts and start working to lift this continent out of poverty
Il faut embarquer Embarquer Embarquer pour Africa
We must board, board, board for Africa
Voici l'avion de nos espoirs De l'avenir de nos gamins De ce qui de leurs propres mains voudront construire demain
This is the plane of our hopes, our children's future, and what they want to build with their own two hands tomorrow
Le jour de l'avion pas de retard Je n'appel pas pour rien Il est enfin que s'envole notre destin
On the day of the plane, no delay, I'm not calling for nothing. It's finally time for our destiny to take flight
Il faut se hâter Se hâter Puisque l'avion va décoller Mes frères mes surs Vous êtes tous invités
We must hurry, hurry, since the plane is about to take off. My brothers and sisters, you're all invited
Pour cet avion pas de passeport Aucun papier n'est demandé Seulement votre volonté De voir ce continent sauvé
For this plane, no passport is required. No paperwork is needed, only your willingness to see this continent saved
C'est le dernier appel Du vol Africa
This is the final call for the Africa flight
Il faut embarquer Embarquer Embarquer pour Africa
We must board, board, board for Africa
Contributed by Carson S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.