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.
Kafri
Tiken Jah Fakoly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ibolomala mi mirima
ibolomala mi mirima
Kafri bolomala mi mirima
djèmi yé hé sorola o ko
kale ka allah lon
mouso myé e wolo la
ko seli lèri te fola o ko
kile te allah lon
ye ni ya demisèniya
kile ma la allah ko la
ibolomala mi mirima
ibolomala mi mirima
ibolomala mi mirima
Kafri bolomala mi mirima
djèmi yé hé sorola o ko
kale ka allah lon
mousso myé e wolola
ko seli lèri te fola o ko
ye ni ya demisèniya
kile ma la allah ko la
ye ni ya demisèniya an
kile ma la allah ko la
ibolomala mi mirima(3fois)
Kafri bolomala mi mirima
i te hinè mogola
ki te saraka bola
do bè diaga bo
ko ma kile ma la allah kola
mogo yé sala lolo
i te olou seguito yé la
ye ni ya deniya kile te allah lon
i ni ya demisèniya kile ma la allah kola
The song Kafri by Tiken Jah Fakoly is a powerful message that speaks to the struggles of the Kafri, who were African slaves who were taken from their homes and brought to America to be enslaved. The lyrics, "ibolomala mi mirima, Kafri bolomala mi mirima" means "let us pray for the Kafri", emphasizing the need for prayer and healing for the Kafri's suffering.
The song also highlights the importance of faith in difficult times, as shown in the lyrics "kale ka allah lon, ye ni ya demisèniya kile te allah lon". This translates to "God is great, let us praise God", indicating that even in the face of adversity, faith and praise can be a source of strength and hope.
Additionally, the lyrics reference the need for justice and freedom for the Kafri, as shown in the lines "ko seli lèri te fola o ko" and "i ni ya demisèniya kile ma la allah kola". These lines translate to "let us seek justice" and "let us pray for freedom", respectively.
Overall, Tiken Jah Fakoly's Kafri is a powerful message of solidarity and hope, reminding listeners of the plight of the Kafri and calling for justice and freedom for all.
Line by Line Meaning
ibolomala mi mirima
I call out, but no one hears me
ibolomala mi mirima
I cry out, but no one answers
ibolomala mi mirima
I wail, but no one comes
Kafri bolomala mi mirima
As a non-believer, I am alone in this world
djèmi yé hé sorola o ko
I have no support, no one to turn to
kale ka allah lon
While others find solace in God
mousso myé e wolo la
I wander aimlessly
ko seli lèri te fola o ko
Lost, with no direction or purpose
ye ni ya demisèniya
I am a forgotten soul
kile te allah lon
Left behind by divine grace
ye ni ya demisèniya
I am a forgotten soul
kile ma la allah ko la
Abandoned by God
ibolomala mi mirima
I call out, but no one hears me
ibolomala mi mirima
I cry out, but no one answers
ibolomala mi mirima
I wail, but no one comes
Kafri bolomala mi mirima
As a non-believer, I am alone in this world
djèmi yé hé sorola o ko
I have no support, no one to turn to
kale ka allah lon
While others find solace in God
mousso myé e wolola
I wander aimlessly
ko seli lèri te fola o ko
Lost, with no direction or purpose
ye ni ya demisèniya
I am a forgotten soul
kile ma la allah ko la
Abandoned by God
ye ni ya demisèniya an
I am a forgotten soul
kile ma la allah ko la
Abandoned by God
ibolomala mi mirima(3fois)
I keep calling out, but no one answers
Kafri bolomala mi mirima
As a non-believer, I am alone in this world
i te hinè mogola
I am lost in the darkness
ki te saraka bola
Without a star to guide me
do bè diaga bo
I walk the path alone
ko ma kile ma la allah kola
Without God's mercy
mogo yé sala lolo
My heart beats with fear
i te olou seguito yé la
As I search in vain
ye ni ya deniya kile te allah lon
I am an outcast, unwanted by God
i ni ya demisèniya kile ma la allah kola
I am a forgotten soul, abandoned by God
Contributed by Aaron T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Diarra Doura Camara
Je me rappel encore de cet album de 2002 quand j'étais en avances en Côte-D'ivoire (Man), en ce moment personne n'osait écoute cet album à cause de la surveillance des autorités du temps actuelle.
INFOsurLATOILE
Hum!!! mon gars tes sur!!! l'album c'est cameleon hin!! il n'avait pas encore faire francafrique ni coup de guele. de quelle souveillance tu parle a ce moment la
PIEH TIEMOKO OUATTARA
Superb chanson
Abraham Ky
Que de souvenirs
La Diva Diomande
J'adore
Anasser AG Acharatoumane
Cest tellement jolie
One love
halimi youcef
Bonsoir a tous,quelqu'un pourrait nous traduire les paroles de Kafri svp ,je lui serais reconnaissant :)
belle precieuse
Kafri parle en quelque sorte du mécréants (cest dans le contexte religieux)
PIEH TIEMOKO OUATTARA
Je kiff ça actuellement meme
Idrissa Traoré
Souvenir