Tiken Jah Fakoly (1968) is a reggae singer from Odienné, Côte d’Ivoire (a.k… Read Full Bio ↴Tiken Jah Fakoly (1968) is a reggae singer from Odienné, Côte d’Ivoire (a.k.a Ivory Coast).

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.

Diaspora
Tiken Jah Fakoly Lyrics

Diaspora
African diaspora (We need you)
Diaspora
Mama Africa diaspora (We need you)

They took us faraway from home on those ships
Across the ocean
Walking never to be free again
Every field and every thorn
That we remember

Remember

Diaspora
African diaspora (We need you)
Diaspora
Mama Africa diaspora (We need you)

United we stand
We fighted before
Together let's break down the division
Unity is the key
To defend our own integrity
Our dignity
Oh, oh my dear African race

Diaspora (diaspora)
African diaspora (African diaspora)
Diaspora (diaspora)
Mama Africa diaspora (African diaspora)

We need you (Uyoyo)
Our fathers, sacrificed, (Uyoyo)
Shall lead us to the light (Uyoyo)
And we have to unite (our power's the future)
That will be our sacrifice

Bridge [Tiken Jah Fakoly]:
[...]

Diaspora
African diaspora (We need you)
Diaspora
Mama Africa diaspora (We need you)

Diaspora (I say rise up, rise up, rise up)
African diaspora (We need you)
Diaspora (Africa is rising)
Mama Africa diaspora (We need you)

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, SOTIGUI EDITIONS ET PRODUCTIONS, SONY ATV MUSIC PUBLISHING FRANCE, ALPHALLIANCE, WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE

DiasporaTiken Jah Fakoly Lyrics

Diaspora
Tiken Jah Fakoly Lyrics