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.
Politqui Kele
Tiken Jah Fakoly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Allah ankissi Politiqui Kele
tiefilale keleni kawa massoro
politiqui fe
badema fila kele ni lodo kawa
massoro politiqui fe
olou bana olou sara ka politiqui toho
kameleni fila keleni kawa
olou torahora polici nanan kana ohmina katanaye
olou bana olou tara politiqui toho
Politiqui Kele
Allah ankissi Politiqui Kele
tiefilale keleni kawa massoro
politiqui fe
badema fila kele ni lodo kawa massoro politiqui fe
olou bana olou sara ka politiqui toho
kameleni fila keleni kawa massoro politiqui fe
olou torahora polici nanan kana ohmina katanaye
olou bana olou taraka politiqui toho
Politiqui Kele
Allah ankissi Politiqui Kele
Baoule ni Betehe alouye kelela politiqui fe
Bete ni Dioula aloute bennakelema politiqui ma
Sosso ni Maninga alouye kelela politiqui fe
Koite labana fitana le ko
Koite labana massouba koleko
An nana sorolaya ambe bena taga katoya
Politiqui Kele
Allah ankissi Politiqui Kele
Bobo ni Mossi alouye kelela politqui fe
Baoule ni Dioula oloute benankelema politiqui ma
Sosso ni Maninga alouye kelela politiqui fe
Baoule ni Bete aloute bin nakelema
politiqui fe
Koite labana fitana le ko
Koite labana massouba koleko
An nana sorolaya ambe bena taga katoya
Politiqui Kele
Allah ankissi Politiqui Kele
The song "Politiqui Kele" by Tiken Jah Fakoly is a political commentary about the problems that arise from corrupt politics in Africa. The song title itself is a play on words, as "Kele" means "to steal" in Bambara, and "Politiqui" refers to the political system. The song calls out politicians who use their power to steal from the people, leaving them impoverished and helpless.
Throughout the song, Tiken Jah Fakoly sings about the various ethnic groups of Africa, all of whom are suffering under the same corrupt system. He calls on Allah to bear witness to the suffering of the people and to bring justice to those who have been wronged. The chorus repeats the phrase "Politiqui Kele, Allah ankissi Politiqui Kele," which translates to "Political thieves, Allah sees political thieves."
The verses of the song highlight specific examples of political corruption, such as police brutality and the misuse of funds meant to help the poor. The song is a powerful call to action, urging people to stand up against corruption and demand change.
Line by Line Meaning
Politiqui Kele
Oh, politics!
Allah ankissi Politiqui Kele
God save us from politics!
tiefilale keleni kawa massoro politiqui fe
People continue to suffer while politicians thrive.
badema fila kele ni lodo kawa massoro politiqui fe
They promise change but deliver nothing.
olou bana olou sara ka politiqui toho
Politicians are all talk and no action.
kameleni fila keleni kawa massoro politiqui fe
They enrich themselves at the expense of the people.
olou torahora polici nanan kana ohmina katanaye
They lie to us every day with no shame.
Baoule ni Betehe alouye kelela politiqui fe
Politics divides us by ethnicity.
Bete ni Dioula aloute bennakelema politiqui ma
Politicians pit us against each other for their own gain.
Sosso ni Maninga alouye kelela politiqui fe
They use violence and intimidation to hold onto power.
Koite labana fitana le ko
We must unite and resist their schemes.
Koite labana massouba koleko
We must work together to build a better future.
An nana sorolaya ambe bena taga katoya
Let us move forward and never forget our struggle.
Bobo ni Mossi alouye kelela politqui fe
Politics knows no tribal boundaries.
Baoule ni Dioula oloute benankelema politiqui ma
Politicians use our differences to maintain their power.
Baoule ni Bete aloute bin nakelema politiqui fe
They keep us divided and weak so they can control us.
Contributed by Sophie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@habibdoumbia8217
Tiken jah et alpha blonde chantent en djoula se pour ce la que je l'aime beaucoup il faut que les ivoiriens mets en considération djoula et malingue dans jours à venir les ivoiriens vont regretté nous les maliens malingue et bamana on est fière de parlé bien
@landrygaye9684
Une inspiration divine découle de cette chanson.
Difficile d'écouter cette ha’son sans verser des larmes ..trop de lyrisme
@adamacool6393
Super papa bravo ❤
@idrisssoumahoro6728
Mon cousin tu est une légende quoi qu'ont disent respect à toi DOUM
@moussakonate898
J'écoute cette chanson toujours,je pleure la politique africaine
@doumbiaichiaka2727
Idole ❤
@stellacolmenero6471
J ai eu pratiquement tout ses albums c est vraiment bien !
@alassaneouattara6685
Le meilleur chanteur tiken jak fakoly
@abdoulayediarra2384
Bonjour merci énormément pour ses messages plein de conseils
Big respect grand tiken
@koneromanomohamed8148
Fierté d’Odiénné