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.
Délivrance
Tiken Jah Fakoly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Où va l'humanité ?
Aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe mon dieu
Le monde est décevant
J'ai protesté contre le racisme, le tribalisme
Ca n'a rien changé
J'ai crié contre les conflits, la répression et l'oppression
Aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe ces affameurs du peuple
Qu'ils sont têtus
Aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe c'est pourquoi
Tout est foutu
Dans ce monde où le système a rendu le pauvre impuissant et muet
Oui partout dans ce monde, la loi décidée par les hors la loi
Ce monde de capital où la moralité n'est plus capitale
J'ai le sentiment de prêcher nuit et jour dans un désert
J'ai boycotté, on a marché, on a dénoncé
Ca n'a rien changé
Nous étions optimistes, on a rêvé, on a espéré
Mais rien n'a changé
Aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe
Où va l'humanité ? je suis fatigué
Aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe
Oh mon dieu, je suis fatigué
Au secours, au secours, au secours
Au secours, au secours, au secours
Au secours mon dieu, délivrance mon dieu
Je suis fatigué, oh mon dieu
Délivre tes enfants des mains de babylone
Je suis fatigué, je suis fatigué
The song "Délivrance" by Tiken Jah Fakoly speaks to the disillusionment and weariness that many people feel in the face of widespread injustice and inequality in the world. The repetitive refrain of "Aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe" expresses a sense of pain and frustration, while the repeated question "Où va l'humanité?" ("Where is humanity going?") suggests a feeling of despair and hopelessness.
Throughout the song, Tiken Jah Fakoly highlights some of the major issues facing the world today, including racism, tribalism, conflict, repression, and oppression. He describes his own efforts to protest and speak out against these issues, but notes that they have not produced any meaningful change. In the second verse, he laments the fact that the world is now dominated by a capitalist system that values profit over morality, leading to a sense of moral decay and spiritual emptiness.
Despite his weariness and disillusionment, Tiken Jah Fakoly refuses to completely give up hope. The repeated cries of "Au secours" ("Help!") and "Délivrance" ("Deliverance") suggest a desire for a better world, even if it feels impossible to attain. Ultimately, the song is a powerful expression of the pain and frustration that many people feel in the face of global injustice, and a call to continue fighting for change even when it seems futile.
Line by Line Meaning
Aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe
Expressing distress and worry
Où va l'humanité ?
Questioning the path humanity is taking
Aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe mon dieu
Expressing distress and worry to God
Le monde est décevant
Disappointed in the state of the world
J'ai protesté contre le racisme, le tribalisme
Stating efforts to protest racism and tribalism
Ca n'a rien changé
Admitting that the efforts made no significant impact
J'ai crié contre les conflits, la répression et l'oppression
Stating efforts made to speak out against conflicts, repression, and oppression
Aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe ces affameurs du peuple
Expressing distress over people who starve the populace
Qu'ils sont têtus
Admitting that these people are stubborn
Aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe c'est pourquoi
Explaining the reason for distress and worry
Tout est foutu
Believing that everything is ruined and hopeless
Dans ce monde où le système a rendu le pauvre impuissant et muet
Describing the world where the poor are powerless
Oui partout dans ce monde, la loi décidée par les hors la loi
Acknowledging that the law is decided by outlaws
Ce monde de capital où la moralité n'est plus capitale
Expressing disappointment over the lack of morality in the world of capital
J'ai le sentiment de prêcher nuit et jour dans un désert
Feeling like preaching is fruitless
J'ai boycotté, on a marché, on a dénoncé
Stating efforts made through boycotting, marching, and denouncing
Ca n'a rien changé
Admitting that these efforts made no significant impact
Nous étions optimistes, on a rêvé, on a espéré
Acknowledging past optimistic efforts
Mais rien n'a changé
Admitting that these efforts made no significant impact
Aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe
Expressing distress and worry
Où va l'humanité ? je suis fatigué
Repeating the question and admitting fatigue
Aïe aïe aïe aïe aïe
Expressing distress and worry
Oh mon dieu, je suis fatigué
Expressing fatigue to God
Au secours, au secours, au secours
Calling for help repeatedly
Au secours, au secours, au secours
Calling for help repeatedly
Au secours mon dieu, délivrance mon dieu
Asking for God's help and deliverance
Je suis fatigué, oh mon dieu
Admitting fatigue to God
Délivre tes enfants des mains de babylone
Asking God to save His children from Babylonian oppression
Je suis fatigué, je suis fatigué
Repeating the admission of fatigue
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, SONY ATV MUSIC PUBLISHING FRANCE
Written by: Zakaria MAMBOUE, TIKEN JAH FAKOLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind