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.

Plus jamais ça
Tiken Jah Fakoly Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Arrêtez
Arrêtez moi tout ça la
Plus jamais ça
On a déconné
Plu jamais ça
On a déconné

Quand ça commence

les bus en flamme
loqu'il y a grève
les maisons en fue
quand on est fâché
On casse tout
Est-ce la solution?

Arréte-moi tout ça là
Non non non nous avons déconé
On déconé
Arrête moi tout ça là
ho la la on a déconné
On a déconné

quand ça commence
les voiture en flame
loqu'il y a marche
les villes paralysées
quan on est fâche
On brûle tout
Où est le sérieux

Arréte-moi tout ça là
On a déconé
On a déconé
Arrête moi tout ça là
ho la la on a déconné
On a déconné

An nga dôfô wouloudjé gnênê
ambé ta dôfô kolokou,bq gnênê
An nga dôfô losseny bq gnênê
ambé ta dôfô lassinê bq gnênê bian

quand ça commence
Et que tu changes de camp
tu deviens automatiquement libérien
Ou bien ghanéen
Sinon on t'appelle le burkinabé
tout simplement
Parce que tu as changé de camp Ha ha
Plu jamais ça
On a déconné
Plu jamais ça
On a déconné

Quand ça commence
Et que tu changes de camp
tu deviens automatiquement le tcheny mangbo
Oui le persona non grata
Parce que tu as changé de camp
Plu jamais ça
On a déconné
Plu jamais ça
On a déconné

Mais pourquoi casser nos acquis?
Mais pourquoi réprimet le citoyens?
Aun nom de quelle politique faut-il détruire?
Aun nom de quelle politique faut il diviser mon peuple?

Plus jamais ça
Jene veux plus voir ça oh non
plus jamais ça
L'intérêt de lq nqtion d'abord
On a déconné(ad lib)
Je ne veux plus avoir ça
Oh Plu jamais ça
On ne veut plus jamais ça
Oh non non Plu jamais ça
Oh non Plu jamais ça
On ne veut plus voir ça
Oh la plus jamais ça
Je ne veux plus avoir ça
Oh la la oh plus jamais ça

On neveut plus avoir ça
Oh la plus jamais ça

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Tiken Jah Fakoly's "Plus jamais ça" (meaning "Never Again" in English) delve into the negative consequences of protests and riots that escalate into violence and destruction. The song begins with a plea to stop such behavior, emphasizing that it should "never happen again" because "we messed up" - "Arrêtez moi tout ça la / Plus jamais ça / On a déconné / Plu jamais ça / On a déconné". Fakoly goes on to describe the chaos that unfolds during such protests, including burning buses and homes, and the damage done by individuals who start breaking things when they are upset. He questions whether violence is a solution, and suggests that it is not: "Où est le sérieux".

The lyrics then take an interesting turn as Fakoly incorporates his Ivorian roots, bringing up the issue of changing allegiances and how that affects people's identities. He likens this to changing from Ivorian to Liberian or Ghanaian, and how the way people refer to you changes accordingly. He seems to be suggesting that people shouldn't be judged or ostracized based on their opinions or political affiliations: "Et que tu changes de camp / tu deviens automatiquement le tcheny mangbo, / Oui le persona non grata" (meaning "And if you change sides, you automatically become the tcheny mangbo / Yes, the persona non grata"). Fakoly then questions the motives behind the destruction caused during protests, asking why people would destroy their own progress and divide their own people.

Overall, "Plus jamais ça" is a powerful plea for peace and unity, urging listeners to reject violence and instead seek understanding and dialogue in the face of conflict. Fakoly's use of language and imagery draws on both African and French culture, making the song a unique fusion of social commentary and cultural pride.

Line by Line Meaning

Arrêtez
Stop

Arrêtez moi tout ça la
Stop all of this

Plus jamais ça
Never again

On a déconné
We messed up

Plu jamais ça
Never again

On a déconné
We messed up

Quand ça commence les bus en flamme loqu'il y a grève les maisons en fue quand on est fâché On casse tout Est-ce la solution?
When it starts, buses are ablaze, when there's a strike, houses are on fire, when we're angry, we break everything. Is that the solution?

Arréte-moi tout ça là Non non non nous avons déconé On déconé
Stop all of this. No no no, we messed up

Arrête moi tout ça là ho la la on a déconné On a déconné
Stop all of this. Oh my, we messed up

quand ça commence les voiture en flame loqu'il y a marche les villes paralysées quan on est fâche On brûle tout Où est le sérieux
When it starts, cars are ablaze, when there's a protest, cities are paralyzed, when we're angry, we burn everything. Where's the seriousness?

An nga dôfô wouloudjé gnênê ambé ta dôfô kolokou,bq gnênê An nga dôfô losseny bq gnênê ambé ta dôfô lassinê bq gnênê bian
When you switch sides, you automatically become Liberian or Ghanaian. Otherwise, you'll be called Burkinabé simply because you changed your allegiance. Ha ha.

Mais pourquoi casser nos acquis? Mais pourquoi réprimet le citoyens? Aun nom de quelle politique faut-il détruire? Aun nom de quelle politique faut il diviser mon peuple?
But why destroy our gains? Why repress the citizens? In the name of what politics should we destroy? In the name of what politics should we divide my people?

Plus jamais ça Jene veux plus voir ça oh non plus jamais ça L'intérêt de lq nqtion d'abord On a déconné(ad lib)
Never again. I don't want to see that again, oh no. Never again. The interest of the nation first. We messed up (ad lib)

Je ne veux plus avoir ça Oh Plu jamais ça On ne veut plus jamais ça Oh non non Plu jamais ça Oh non Plu jamais ça On ne veut plus voir ça Oh la plus jamais ça Je ne veux plus avoir ça Oh la la oh plus jamais ça On neveut plus avoir ça Oh la plus jamais ça
I don't want to have that anymore. Oh, never again. We don't want to see that ever again. Oh no no, never again. Oh no, never again. We don't want to see that. Oh, never again. I don't want to have that anymore. Oh, never again. We don't want to have that anymore. Oh, never again.

Contributed by Reagan A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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