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.
Françafrique
Tiken Jah Fakoly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La politique France Africa
C'est du blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
La politique Amerique Africa
C'est du blaguer et tuer
Blaguer et tuer
La politique France Africa
C'est du blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
La politique Amerique Africa
C'est du blaguer et tuer
Blaguer et tuer
Ils nous vendent des armes
Pendant que nous nous battons
Ils pillent nos richesses
Et se disent être surpris de voir l'Afrique toujours en guerre
Ils ont brûlé le Congo
Enflammé l'Angola
Ils ont ruiné le Gabon
Ils ont brûlé Kinshasa
La politique France Africa
C'est du blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
La politique Amerique Africa
C'est du blaguer et tuer
Blaguer et tuer
La politique France Africa
C'est du blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
La politique Amerique Africa
C'est du blaguer et tuer
Blaguer et tuer
Ils cautionnent la dictature
Tout ça pour nous affamer
Ils pillent nos richesses
Pour nous enterrer vivants
Ils ont brûlé le Congo
Enflammé l'Angola
Ils ont brûlé Kinshasa
Ils ont brûlé le Rwanda
La politique France Africa
C'est du blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
La politique Amerique Africa
C'est du blaguer et tuer
Blaguer et tuer
La politique France Africa
C'est du blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
La politique Amerique Africa
C'est du blaguer et tuer
Blaguer et tuer
Réveillez-vous!
Blaguer tuer Babylone est très habile
Blaguer tuer vigilance et résistance
O'ka Sierra Leonedéniou boro tégué
Ka Libéria déniou mutilés
O'ka Angola déniou boro tégué
O'ka Sierra Leone déniou boro tégué
La politique France Africa
C'est du blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
La politique Amerique Africa
C'est du blaguer et tuer
Blaguer et tuer
La politique France Africa
C'est du blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
La politique Amerique Africa
C'est du blaguer et tuer
Blaguer et tuer
Blaguer tuer
Ils vont nous blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
Ils veulent nous blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
Toubabou vont nous blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
Ils veulent nous blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
Ils veulent nous blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
Réveillez-vous
Blaguer tuer
Ils veulent nous blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
Réveillez-vous
Blaguer tuer
Vigilance et résistance
Blaguer tuer
Ils veulent nous blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
Réveillez-vous
Blaguer tuer
Ils veulent nous blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer.....
The song "Françafrique" by Tiken Jah Fakoly is a political commentary on the relationship between certain African countries and their former colonizers, France and America. The lyrics call for an awakening to the harsh realities of this relationship and expose the exploitation and manipulation that has been taking place for years. The phrase "blaguer tuer" appears repeatedly throughout the song, emphasizing the mockery and violence inherent in this so-called political relationship.
The first verse accuses both France and America of selling weapons to African countries, while simultaneously pillaging their resources and feigning shock at the ongoing conflicts. The second verse accuses them of enabling dictatorships in order to starve the people and bury them alive. The repetition of lines about the burning of Congo, Angola, Kinshasa, and Rwanda speaks to the vast destruction and loss of life that has resulted from this corrupt political system.
Despite the bleak picture painted by the lyrics, the song ends with a call for "vigilance and resistance," urging listeners to wake up and stand strong against those who would "blaguer tuer" their people. Through Tiken Jah Fakoly's piercing lyrics and delivery, "Françafrique" delivers a powerful message about the ongoing exploitation of African nations by outside powers and the need for change.
Line by Line Meaning
Réveillez-vous!
Wake up! - An urgent call to action
La politique France Africa
C'est du blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
La politique Amerique Africa
C'est du blaguer et tuer
Blaguer et tuer
The political relationship between France/Africa and America/Africa is characterized by empty promises and violence.
Ils nous vendent des armes
Pendant que nous nous battons
Ils pillent nos richesses
Et se disent être surpris de voir l'Afrique toujours en guerre
Ils ont brûlé le Congo
Enflammé l'Angola
Ils ont ruiné le Gabon
Ils ont brûlé Kinshasa
They sell us weapons while we fight, they exploit our resources and yet act surprised that Africa is always at war. They have destroyed Congo, Angola, Gabon, Kinshasa, and caused widespread destruction.
Ils cautionnent la dictature
Tout ça pour nous affamer
Ils pillent nos richesses
Pour nous enterrer vivants
Ils ont brûlé le Congo
Enflammé l'Angola
Ils ont brûlé Kinshasa
Ils ont brûlé le Rwanda
They support dictatorship just to keep us starving and desperate. They exploit our wealth to bury us alive. They have burned Congo, Angola, Kinshasa, and Rwanda.
Blaguer tuer Babylone est très habile
Blaguer tuer vigilance et résistance
O'ka Sierra Leonedéniou boro tégué
Ka Libéria déniou mutilés
O'ka Angola déniou boro tégué
O'ka Sierra Leone déniou boro tégué
Empty promises and violence are the tools of Babylon's trade. We must remain vigilant and resist their attempts to deceive us. Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Angola have all suffered great harm as a result of these tactics.
Blaguer tuer
Ils vont nous blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
Ils veulent nous blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
Toubabou vont nous blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
Ils veulent nous blaguer tuer
Empty promises and violence will be used against us. They want to deceive us and harm us. Don't trust the Toubabou, they want to deceive us and harm us.
Blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
Ils veulent nous blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
Réveillez-vous
Blaguer tuer
Ils veulent nous blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
Réveillez-vous
Empty promises and violence are coming, wake up and take action. Do not be deceived, wake up and take action.
Vigilance et résistance
Blaguer tuer
Ils veulent nous blaguer tuer
Blaguer tuer
Réveillez-vous
Blaguer tuer
Ils veulent nous blaguer tuer
We must remain vigilant and resist their attempts to deceive and harm us. Wake up and take action to protect ourselves from their empty promises and violence.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, SONY ATV MUSIC PUBLISHING FRANCE
Written by: MOUSSA DOUMBIA, KOUROUMA ISSA, ZAKARIA MAMBOUET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind