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.
No No No
Tiken Jah Fakoly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No, no, no
No, no, no
No, no, no
No, no, no
No, no, no
On ne veut plus cela
No, no, no
On ne veut plus cela
Des africains arrêtés à toutes les frontières
Des migrants affrétés par des traficants
Des africains qui triment pour des traficants
Des frégates qui affrètent le sang des africains
Des africains qui se tuent au taff pour trois fois rien
Des africains sacrifiés pour des billets verts
No, no, no
On ne veut plus cela
No, no, no
On ne veut plus cela
De pompes à fric qui polluent nos rivières
La France-Afrique et son CFA
De l'argent sale dans de sales draps
La corruption dans les ministères
Valises de billets pour les mercenaires
Enfants soldats, l'arme en bandoulière
Le peuple est toujours dans la misère
Les africains qui foutent sur le dos des africains
No, no, no
On ne veut plus cela
No, no, no
On ne veut plus cela
No, no, no
On ne veut plus cela
No, no, no
On ne veut plus cela
No, no, no
No, no, no
No, no, no
No, no, no
No, no, no
No, no, no
Devant l'Europe qui font les flics en temps de guerre
Et Babylone qui pille les ressources minières
Des films qui volent le sang de nos terres
Des présidents qui agissent comme des mercenaires
Des fils de présidents qui veulent succéder à leur père
Ils sont prêts à tout même à faire la guerre
No, no, no
On ne veut plus cela
No, no, no
On ne veut plus cela
No, no, no
On ne veut plus cela
No, no, no
On ne veut plus cela
Des militaires qui se gavent comme des millionaires
Des enfants dans l'Afrique qui n'ont plus ni père, ni mère
Des fous de Dieu qui se foutent bien des africains
Des foules en feu qu'on manipule pour un scrutin
Des africains ballottés en quête de lendemain
Le son du Balafon blessé au fond de mon refrain
No, no, no
On ne veut plus cela
No, no, no
On ne veut plus cela
No, no, no
On ne veut plus cela
No, no, no
On ne veut plus cela
No, no, no
On ne veut plus cela
No, no, no
On ne veut plus cela
Tiken Jah Fakoly's song "No no no" is a call to end the exploitation and mistreatment of Africans. The song denounces a variety of issues that seem to be a common occurrence in Africa, such as the arrest of Africans at all borders, the exploitation of migrants by traffickers, and the use of African blood as a commodity. The song also talks about the use of military power by militias who are out to gain resources from Africa, how Africa's rivers are being polluted by pumps for resources, the widespread corruption within political ministries, and much more.
Tiken Jah Fakoly's lyrics show that people are being mistreated and exploited for greed, power, and profit. One of the most salient features of the song's lyrics is the repetition of 'No no no', which serves as an intensifier of the artist's stance against the systematic exploitation of Africa. The lyrics also address Babylone's looting of Africa's mineral resources, President's sons who are ready to go to war to succeed their fathers, and military officials who reap the profits while the people suffer in poverty.
Overall, the song speaks about the desire for change and a call to put an end to exploitation, corruption, and injustice that continue to take place in Africa.
Line by Line Meaning
No, no, no
We cannot and will not accept these things anymore.
On ne veut plus cela
We do not want this anymore.
Des africains arrêtés à toutes les frontières
Africans being stopped at every border.
Des migrants affrétés par des traficants
Migrants being hired by traffickers.
Des africains qui triment pour des traficants
Africans working hard for traffickers.
Des frégates qui affrètent le sang des africains
Ships that transport the blood of Africans.
Des africains qui se tuent au taff pour trois fois rien
Africans working themselves to death for hardly any pay.
Des africains sacrifiés pour des billets verts
Africans being sacrificed for money.
De pompes à fric qui polluent nos rivières
Money-making schemes that pollute our rivers.
La France-Afrique et son CFA
France-Africa and its currency, the CFA franc.
De l'argent sale dans de sales draps
Dirty money in dirty hands.
La corruption dans les ministères
Corruption in government ministries.
Valises de billets pour les mercenaires
Suitcases full of money for mercenaries.
Enfants soldats, l'arme en bandoulière
Child soldiers, armed and ready.
Le peuple est toujours dans la misère
The people are always in misery.
Les africains qui foutent sur le dos des africains
Africans blaming other Africans.
Devant l'Europe qui font les flics en temps de guerre
Europe acting like police during times of war.
Et Babylone qui pille les ressources minières
Babylon (Western powers) stealing mineral resources.
Des films qui volent le sang de nos terres
Films that take advantage of our land's resources.
Des présidents qui agissent comme des mercenaires
Presidents acting like mercenaries.
Des fils de présidents qui veulent succéder à leur père
Presidents' sons wanting to take their father's place.
Ils sont prêts à tout même à faire la guerre
They are willing to do anything, even start a war.
Des militaires qui se gavent comme des millionaires
Soldiers who live like millionaires.
Des enfants dans l'Afrique qui n'ont plus ni père, ni mère
Children in Africa who have lost both parents.
Des fous de Dieu qui se foutent bien des africains
Crazy religious extremists who do not care about Africans.
Des foules en feu qu'on manipule pour un scrutin
Crowds being stirred up for an election.
Des africains ballottés en quête de lendemain
Africans being tossed around in search of a better future.
Le son du Balafon blessé au fond de mon refrain
The sound of the balafon (West African instrument) wounded in the background of my song.
Writer(s): Issa Kourouma, R-wan, Tiken Jah Fakoly
Contributed by Lillian C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.