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.
Ngomi
Tiken Jah Fakoly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
N'yin djè ninan
N′guèra ngomi ehh
N'guèra ngomi eh
N'go djè ninan
N′yin djè ninan
N′guèra ngomi ehh
Y′en a qui pensent que j'aime pas leur leader
Ils ont raison, je préfère le peuple
Certains disent que je suis un traître
Ils ont raison, je suis avec le peuple
Et d′autres pensent que je suis arrogant
Ils ont raison, le peuple est mon roi
Hey
N'go djè ninan
N′yin djè ninan
N'guèra ngomi ehh
N'guèra ngomi eh
N′go djè ninan
N′yin djè ninan
N'guèra ngomi ehh
N′guèra ngomi eh
Y'en a qui disent que je change de couleur
Ils ont raison, je préfère le peuple
Certains disent que Fakoly se tait
Ils ont raison, je parle pour le peuple
Et d′autres disent que je suis un rasta
Ils ont raison, Jah Jah est mon Roi
Hey
N'go djè ninan
N′yin djè ninan
N'guèra ngomi ehh
N'guèra ngomi eh
N′go djè ninan
N′yin djè ninan
N'guèra ngomi ehh
N′guèra ngomi eh
Tant que le peuple aura faim
Quand d'autres augmentent leur gain
Tant que le peuple sera dans la galère
Quand d′autres se promènent dans des palais
Rastafari dira nohh
No no no no no nohh
Reggae music dira nohh
No no no no no nohh
N'go djè ninan
N′yin djè ninan
N'guèra ngomi ehh
N'guèra ngomi ehh
N′go djè ninan
N′yin djè ninan
N'guèra ngomi ehh
N′guèra ngomi ehh
N'go djè ninan
N′yin djè ninan
N'guèra ngomi ehh
N′guèra ngomi ehh
N'go djè ninan
N'yin djè ninan
N′guèra ngomi ehh
N′guèra ngomi ehh
Tant que la gouvernance sera ethnique
Basée sur le régionalisme
Tant que le peuple sera pas réconcilié ehh
Qu'il restera divisé ehh
Rastafari dira nohh
No no no no no nohh
Reggae music dira nohh
No no no no no nohh
N′go djè ninan
N'yin djè ninan
N′guèra ngomi ehh
N'guèra ngomi eh
N′go djè ninan
N'yin djè ninan
N'guèra ngomi ehh
N′guèra ngomi eh
N′go djè ninan
N'yin djè ninan
N′guèra ngomi ehh
N'guèra ngomi eh
N′go djè ninan
N'yin djè ninan
N′guèra ngomi ehh
N'guèra ngomi eh
N'go djè ninan
N′yin djè ninan
N′guèra ngomi ehh
N'guèra ngomi eh
N′go djè ninan
N'yin djè ninan
N′guèra ngomi ehh
N'guèra ngomi eh
N′go djè ninan
N'yin djè ninan
N'guèra ngomi ehh
N′guèra ngomi eh
N′go djè ninan
N'yin djè ninan
N′guèra ngomi ehh
N'guèra ngomi eh
The lyrics of Tiken Jah Fakoly's song "Ngomi" display a strong social and political message. The repeated phrase "N'guera ngomi" means "the struggle continues" in his native language, Dioula. The song is a call to action to fight against injustice and oppression, specifically against the ruling leaders. Fakoly admits that some accuse him of being a traitor or arrogant, but he declares that he stands with the people, not with those in power. Furthermore, he points out that the situation of the people is not good while ruling leaders profit: "Tant que le peuple aura faim, quand d'autres augmentent leur gain... Quand d'autres se promènent dans des palais" ("As long as the people are hungry when others increase their profits... when others are walking in palaces").
In the second part of the lyrics, Fakoly focuses on ethnic division and regionalism in governance. He believes that as long as the government continues to be divided along these lines, the people will not be reconciled nor united. Yet, Fakoly's faith remains in reggae music and the Rastafari movement as a way of spreading a message of hope and change: "Reggae music dira nohh, Rastafari dira nohh" ("Reggae music will say no, Rastafari will say no").
Overall, "Ngomi" is a powerful song that encourages people to fight against oppression and stand for their rights. It calls for unity and solidarity among marginalized people against a corrupt and unjust system.
Line by Line Meaning
N′go djè ninan
I am not alone
N'yin djè ninan
You are not alone
N′guèra ngomi ehh
We are in this fight together
N'guèra ngomi eh
We are in this fight together
Y′en a qui pensent que j'aime pas leur leader
Some think I don't like their leader
Ils ont raison, je préfère le peuple
They are right, I prefer the people
Certains disent que je suis un traître
Some say I am a traitor
Ils ont raison, je suis avec le peuple
They are right, I stand with the people
Et d′autres pensent que je suis arrogant
And others think I am arrogant
Ils ont raison, le peuple est mon roi
They are right, the people are my king
Y'en a qui disent que je change de couleur
Some say I change my colors
Ils ont raison, je préfère le peuple
They are right, I prefer the people
Certains disent que Fakoly se tait
Some say Fakoly is silent
Ils ont raison, je parle pour le peuple
They are right, I speak for the people
Et d′autres disent que je suis un rasta
And others say I am a Rasta
Ils ont raison, Jah Jah est mon Roi
They are right, Jah Jah is my King
Tant que le peuple aura faim
As long as the people hunger
Quand d'autres augmentent leur gain
While others increase their profits
Tant que le peuple sera dans la galère
As long as the people struggle
Quand d′autres se promènent dans des palais
While others stroll in palaces
Rastafari dira nohh
Rastafari will say no
No no no no no nohh
No, no, no
Reggae music dira nohh
Reggae music will say no
N′go djè ninan
I am not alone
N′yin djè ninan
You are not alone
N'guèra ngomi ehh
We are in this fight together
N'guèra ngomi eh
We are in this fight together
Tant que la gouvernance sera ethnique
As long as governance is based on ethnicity
Basée sur le régionalisme
Based on regionalism
Tant que le peuple sera pas réconcilié ehh
As long as the people are not reconciled
Qu'il restera divisé ehh
And remain divided
N'guèra ngomi ehh
We are in this fight together
N'guèra ngomi eh
We are in this fight together
Writer(s): Dave Kynner, Tiken Jah Fakoly
Contributed by Logan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tiken Jah Fakoly
Écoutez mon nouveau titre / Listen to my new track : RELIGION 👉🏿https://TikenJahFakoly.lnk.to/Religion
Retrouvez-moi sur TikTok / Find me on TikTok 👉🏿https://www.tiktok.com/@tikenjahfakolyofficiel
Chnel TV
Je suis impatient j'attends j'aime trop Tiken Jah si tu aimes l'Afrique n'oublie pas de laisser un like par ici vive l'Afrique
Nyabingi Kenyangi
🌍 🖤✊🏿
Serge Aben
C'est-à-dire Que ont ne trouve par les mots tellement il est bon !!!
Wilson Jean
@Aliy N'guila p
Aliy N'guila
Une école de la sagesse merci mon grand inspirateur depuis mon enfance. Longue vie le général Tiken Jah Fakoly
MARCOS DE OLIVEIRA - ARTISTA VISUAL
I didn't know this great artist, I just found him here on YouTube. He is really magnificent! Long live Africa! Long Life Tiken Jah!
Soumahoro Adama
L’âge avance l’inspiration déborde merci le père fakoly pour cette belle chanson 🤞
Arouna Yeoman
J'ai toujours aimé ce monsieur
Omar Fall
@Issouf Kone 7p