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.
Alou Maye
Tiken Jah Fakoly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Alou mayé ! Alou mayé
Alou mayé ! Alou mayé
Fakoly ni Soumdjata bé Souman Gourou gnê na
Alou mayé ! Alou mayé
Alou mayé ! Alou mayé
Alou mayé ! Alou mayé
Fakoly ni Soumdjata bé Souman Gourou gnê na
Dô ya kô ka ka lé djamana mina,
Dô ya kô ka ka lé muso mina ra,
Dô ya kô ka ka lé djamana mina
Soumahoro bori la, Soumahoro bori la, Soumahoro ka ti bori la !
Alou mayé ! Alou mayé
Alou mayé ! Alou mayé
Alou mayé ! Alou mayé
Fakoly ni Soumdjata bé Souman Gourou gnê na
Alou mayé ! Alou mayé
Alou mayé ! Alou mayé
Alou mayé ! Alou mayé
Fakoly ni Soumdjata bé Souman Gourou gnê na
(solo n'goni)
Griotte Saramba Kouyaté:
Ah!
N'ko, kuma mi fô ni? oyé tugnan le di Allah
O' tumana Soumangourou Kanté lé djani tun'yé mandéka lou da la
Fôlô fôlô fôlô
O'kâla tuma'mina fadabni simbo wili'la
Ka Soumangourou Kanté djen
A'ko mandé ka lou dara
Okela ko'ba yé !
Alou mayé ! Alou mayé
Alou mayé ! Alou mayé
Alou mayé ! Alou mayé
Fakoly ni Soumdjata bé Souman Gourou gnê na
(Solo n'goni)
Dô lou ko soumahoro ta kourou kou na,
Dô lou ko soumahoro tara ba dji la,
Dô lou ko' soumahoro tara kourou kou non
Soumahoro borila !
Dô lou ko soumahoro tara waya si ra,
Dô lou ko soumahoro tara ba dji la
Dô lou ko' soumahoro tara kourou kou na
Soumahoro borila !
Alou mayé ! Alou mayé
Alou mayé ! Alou mayé
Alou mayé ! Alou mayé
Fakoly ni Soumdjata bé Souman Gourou gnê na
Dô lou ko soumahoro kanté bori la,
Dô lou ko soumahoro kanté tounou' na,
Dô lou ko soumahoro tara kourou kouna
Soumahoro burila !
Dja ! dja ! soumahoro borila !
Dja ! dja ! soumahoro borila !
Dja ! soumahoro, soumahoro borila
Soumahoro borila !
Alou mayé ! Alou mayé
Alou mayé ! Alou mayé
Alou mayé ! Alou mayé
Fakoly ni Soumdjata bé Souman Gourou gnê na
Griotte Saramba Kouyaté:
The song Alou Mayé by Tiken Jah Fakoly is deeply rooted in the West African tradition of storytelling. The lyrics describe the life of Soumahoro Kanté, a legendary hero in Mandingue history. The song recalls his journey from his youth as a warrior, to his later days as a sage and spiritual leader. The chorus, "Alou mayé," serves as a call to remember and honor the contributions of Soumahoro Kanté and other ancestors who have paved the way for the present generation.
The verses of the song paint a vivid picture of the life and times of the hero, with references to his military exploits and his later role as a counselor to the king. The Griotte Saramba Kouyaté, who comes in towards the end of the song, adds to the storytelling element of the song with her own narration of Soumahoro Kanté's journey. The use of the n'goni and other traditional instruments further emphasizes the African heritage of the song.
Overall, Alou Mayé is more than just a simple song. It is a retelling of an important part of West African history and serves as a reminder of the resilience and contributions of the ancestors who came before us.
Line by Line Meaning
Alou mayé ! Alou mayé
Expressing a call to attention or a sense of urgency
Fakoly ni Soumdjata bé Souman Gourou gnê na
Referring to the artist and historical figures, symbolizing the continuity of cultural and political resistance
Dô ya kô ka ka lé djamana mina,
Addressing the listener, asking a rhetorical question about the meaning of life
Dô ya kô ka ka lé muso mina ra,
Reflecting on the essence of humanity and the interconnectedness of all beings
Soumahoro bori la, Soumahoro bori la, Soumahoro ka ti bori la !
Singing in praise of Soumahoro, a traditional figure of resistance and a symbol of collective strength
Ah! N'ko, kuma mi fô ni? oyé tugnan le di Allah
Starting a spoken word section, asking about the purpose of existence and invoking the power of Allah
O' tumana Soumangourou Kanté lé djani tun'yé mandéka lou da la
Mentioning Soumangourou Kanté, a legendary Malian ruler and king of the Manding Empire, as a symbol of African heritage and resistance
Dôlou ko soumahoro ta kourou kou na, Soumahoro borila !
Repeating the name of Soumahoro, emphasizing his role as a source of inspiration and strength
Dja ! dja ! soumahoro borila !
Chanting in unison to celebrate and honor Soumahoro's legacy
Contributed by Madison L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Sparo295
Qui es là en 2024 ? ❤
@thiernoamiroudiallo3216
2k21 si tu kif ça, ce que t'es une légende 100ans de protection sur toi one love 🚀❤
@lucolivierguei5016
Tiens bah fakoly nouveautés
@anselmepembeni6175
Tiken Jah, grand merci ! Depuis Goma en RDC. Nous étions ensemble....je manque de mots!! Que le Bon Dieu te bénisse abondamment grand frère !!
@armandmpoue1712
Je suis ivoirien abbey j’ai fais korhogo j’aime le nord de tout mon cœur ❣ que Dieu protège mon pays et qu’il donne toujours la force au jeune du nord de mon pays 🇨🇮💪💪💪
@justdoit-ff9kv
Hello from Morocco
@antoinev8365
@@justdoit-ff9kv 😮😮😮zrgccrrfrtg😮
@touelewimian-wc2eu
Poopopo 🎉🎉 le Pacifique sud-est 🎉❤
@manassekone1533
Merci maman
@touelewimian-wc2eu
@@manassekone1533 yala awa akbar Hamdoulila yala 😊🙂