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.
Political War
Tiken Jah Fakoly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the politicians came to my valley
They wanted my parents to vote for them
And my daddy say “no no I don’t want to vote for them”
ASA:
And all the hopes and promises
for better life and education
didn't come my way
it sounds so far away
and all the governors and ministers
presidents and many wives
colleges and everybody
rolling out this guilty
Didn't come away
So far away
Political war
I remember when I was younger
the politicians came to my valley
They wanted my parents to vote for them
And my daddy say “no no I don’t want to vote for them”
Political war
I remember when I was younger
My daddy disappeared from his friends and family
He was taken to fight a political war
Another sacrifice for the political war
ASA : And I remember they did the same in Nigeria
I remember they did the same in Liberia
I don’t want to see my people dying for political war
I don’t want to see that again, see that again, to see that
ASA : Why are my people still dying for political war
Why do I see that again, see that again, see that?
Political war
Tiken Jah Fakoly's song "Political War" talks about the aftermath of the elections where politicians go to rural areas to convince people to vote for them. The song starts with the singer talking about how he remembers when he was young and politicians used to come to his valley to convince his parents to vote for them. But his father refused to vote for them, as he was aware of their false promises.
The song then describes the hopes and promises of a better life, education, and security made by politicians that never saw the light of the day. It portrays the helplessness of people who were fooled by the politicians in the name of democracy. The lyrics suggest that politicians are more concerned about winning the election than fulfilling their promises.
The song also highlights the brutal reality of political war in African countries such as Nigeria and Liberia. The singer expresses his concern and anguish over his people dying in the name of politics.
Overall, the song is a satirical take on the political system in African countries and how politicians use false promises to win elections, leaving the masses in a state of confusion and disappointment.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember when I was younger
Reflecting on a past memory
the politicians came to my valley
Political figures came to my town
They wanted my parents to vote for them
They solicited my family's vote
And my daddy say "no no I don’t want to vote for them"
My father declined their offer
Political war
The conflict of politics
I remember when I was younger
Reflecting on a past memory
My daddy disappeared from his friends and family
My father went missing
He was taken to fight a political war
He was forced to fight in a political battle
Another sacrifice for the political war
Another life taken in the conflict
I don’t want to see my people dying for political war
I am against my people's death due to politics
I don’t want to see that again, see that again, to see that
I want the violence and loss to stop
Why are my people still dying for political war
Questioning the continuation of political violence
Why do I see that again, see that again, see that?
Questioning the reason for continued political violence
Lyrics © SONY ATV MUSIC PUBLISHING, NAIVE, ASA, Évangeline/APEM
Written by: MOUSSA DOUMBIA, BUKOLA ELEMIDE, THOMAS NAIM, JONATHAN QUARMBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SattaMan84
tiken jah...muito bom mesmo peaceeeee from Portuga with Love
fightforpeace
Very melancholic, suits perfect with a topic like war!
Malfehzan
Beautiful song. -- Asa has a superb, melancholic voice. -- Pour ce qu'y est de croire qu'elle est une choriste, il faut excuser les ceuzes qui ont eu la chance de voir Tiken en concert où, bien entendu, une choriste rend les textes qu'Asa chante sur disque.
endreadado
Political war I remember when I was younger My daddy disappeard from his frienda and family He was taken to fight a political war Another sacrifice for the ASA: And I remember they did the same in Nigeria I remember they did the same in Liberia I don't want to see the people dyinf for political war I don't want to see that again, see that again, to see that ASA: Why are my people still dying political war Why do I see that again, see that again, see that? political war
clement vuillemenot
très belle chanson et c est vraie que la chanteuse(une de ces 2 choristes a une superbe voix)
endreadado
Political War I remember when I was younger The politicians came to my valley They wanted my parents to vote for them And my daddy say "no no I don't want to vote for them" Political war ASA: And all the hopes and promises, For better live and education, good road, security, They don't come my way, they sound so far away And all the governors and ministers, presidents and Many wives, colleagues and everybody running helter-skelter But they don't come way, rhey're far away.
Abdul razak Abubakar
Tiken the best...
Badingu official
this song is grazy i love it more fire to my mento fakoly
n'guessan marc kouakou
je maitrise pas trop l'anglais quelqu'un pourait m'aider à comprendre les parôles de cette chancon ? merci
Tijuanita Stella
Qui chante avec Tiken? J'aime