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.
Le Descendant
Tiken Jah Fakoly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Je ne sais pas où je vais mais je sais d'où je viens
Alouyé hé hé hé
(Choeurs: Alouya men)
Y'en a qui sont les descendants des Bakongo
Y'en a qui sont les descendants de Sayara
Y'en a qui sont les descendants de Madjou Touré
Mon premier ancêtre s'appelait Toubouré
Toubouré a été suivi par Fandê
Fandê a été suivi de Djé
Djé a été suivi de Djessé
Djessé a été suivi de Katélé
Katélé a éte suivi par Soumankaly
Soumankaly suivi par Yérélenko
Yérélenko a été suivi par Fakoly Koumba Any Fakoly Daaba
Alouyé hé hé hé
(Choeurs: Alouya men)
Y'en a qui sont les descendants du Libéria
Y'en a qui sont les descendants du Mali
Y'en a qui sont les descendants de la Guinée
Y'en a qui sont les descendants du Ghana
Y'en a qui sont les descendants du Burkina
Et c'est tout ça qui forme une population merveilleuse
Alors unité Angnan brodi gnogomahan
Ne Bêmindjê tôgô toumbê toubouré
Toubouré ta dén né toumbé Fandê
Fandê ta dén ne toumbé Djé
Djê ta dén ne toumbé Djessé
Djessé ta dén ne toumbé Katélé
Katélé ta dén ne toumbé Soumankaly
Soumankaly ta dén ne toumbé Yérélenko
Yérélenko ta dén ne toumbé Fakoly Koumba Any Fakoly Daaba
Agné Kouma fôla Hakilima le gnênê
Ante kouma fôla torofraba gnênê
Fakoly
Alouyé hé hé hé hé
(Choeurs: Alouya men)
The lyrics to Tiken Jah Fakoly's song "Le Descendant" reveal the artist's identity as a descendant of his ancestors, tracing his lineage back to Toubouré, his first known ancestor. The chorus, "Je suis Le Descendant de Fakoly," highlights the pride he takes in his heritage, despite not knowing where he is going in life, he knows where he comes from. The song highlights that everyone is a descendant of someone and that we should all be proud of our roots and come together in unity, forming a beautiful and diverse population.
The song also mentions other places of origin, namely Liberia, Mali, Guinea, Ghana, and Burkina Faso, emphasizing that despite coming from various places, humanity is more connected through our shared experience of descent. The chant-like repetition of names and phrases creates a rhythm that mimics that of traditional African music, highlighting the artist's cultural roots.
Overall, "Le Descendant" is a celebration of cultural identity and heritage, advocating for the unity of people while embracing diversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Je suis Le Descendant de Fakoly
I am the descendant of the Fakoly family
Je ne sais pas où je vais mais je sais d'où je viens
I don't know where I am going but I know where I come from
Alouyé hé hé hé
A celebratory chant
Y'en a qui sont les descendants des Bakongo
Some are descendants of the Bakongo people
Y'en a qui sont les descendants de Sayara
Some are descendants of the Sayara people
Y'en a qui sont les descendants de Madjou Touré
Some are descendants of Madjou Touré
Moi je suis celui de Fakoly Koumba Any Fakoly Daaba
But I am a descendant of Fakoly Koumba Any Fakoly Daaba
Mon premier ancêtre s'appelait Toubouré
My first ancestor was named Toubouré
Toubouré a été suivi par Fandê
Toubouré was followed by Fandê
Fandê a été suivi de Djé
Fandê was followed by Djé
Djé a été suivi de Djessé
Djé was followed by Djessé
Djessé a été suivi de Katélé
Djessé was followed by Katélé
Katélé a éte suivi par Soumankaly
Katélé was followed by Soumankaly
Soumankaly suivi par Yérélenko
Soumankaly was followed by Yérélenko
Yérélenko a été suivi par Fakoly Koumba Any Fakoly Daaba
Yérélenko was followed by Fakoly Koumba Any Fakoly Daaba
Y'en a qui sont les descendants du Libéria
Some are descendants from Liberia
Y'en a qui sont les descendants du Mali
Some are descendants from Mali
Y'en a qui sont les descendants de la Guinée
Some are descendants from Guinea
Y'en a qui sont les descendants du Ghana
Some are descendants from Ghana
Y'en a qui sont les descendants du Burkina
Some are descendants from Burkina Faso
Et c'est tout ça qui forme une population merveilleuse
And all of these lineages form a wonderful population
Alors unité Angnan brodi gnogomahan
So let's unite and work together
Ne Bêmindjê tôgô toumbê toubouré
A call to remember our ancestors like Toubouré
Agné Kouma fôla Hakilima le gnênê
We are all brothers and sisters under the same sky
Ante kouma fôla torofraba gnênê
Let's treat each other with love and respect
Fakoly
The artist's last name
Alouyé hé hé hé hé
A celebratory chant
Contributed by Arianna Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.