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.
Quitte le pouvoir
Tiken Jah Fakoly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Quitte le pouvoir
Quitte le pouvoir
Je te dis quitte le pouvoir
Tiken
Ca fait trop longtemps que tu nous fais perdre le temps
Depuis quarante ans tu refuses de foutre le camp
Oh la la, oh la la !
Refrain X 2
Tiken :
Je t’avais prévenu que tu as été mal élu
Mais tu t’es accroché, aujourd’hui tout est gâché
Tu pourrais avoir des ennuis si les choses restent ainsi
Oh la la ! Oh la la !
Refrain X 2
Tiken
Aucun changement dans vos comportements
Malgré différents gouvernements depuis quarante ans
Tu pourrais passer un sal moment si tu nous pourris le temps
Oh la la ! Oh la la !
Refrain X 2
Awady
On en a marre, on en a marre, on dit qu’on en a marre
On vit dans le stress, on dit qu’on en a marre
On n’a même pas de pain, on dit qu’on en a marre
Tout le Peuple, Tous les gosses, tous les mecs en ont marre
Tu gouvernes mal, ton gouvernement man détourne mal les comptes monumentales
Oui ! Tant de mal ! Tu nous fais tant de mal
Il est donc évident quand nous pêche dans le mental
Pas dévolution, man libère le Peuple
Fais-le vite, fais-le bien
Man libère le Peuple
Et pense à demain, man libère le Peuple
Tu le fais pour de bon, tu le fais pour le Peuple
Rester tout le temps, tu nous pourris le temps
Pas le moindre changement, tu nous pourris le temps
Pas de boulot, pas de job, tu nous pourris le temps
L’avenir fout le camp, tu nous pourris le temps,
Une seconde de plus, c’est une seconde de trop,
Une minute de plus, c’est une minute de trop
Un cadavre de plus, c’est le cadavre de trop
Le mandat de plus, c’es le mandat de trop
On en a marre, on en a marre, on dit qu’on en a marre
On vit dans le stress, on dit qu’on en a marre
On n’a même pas de pain, on dit qu’on en a marre
Tout le Peuple, Tous les gosses, tous les mecs en ont marre
Voilà la porte, et sors dans le calme
Pas de balle, pas de sang, tu sors dans le calme
Voilà la porte, et sors dans le calme
Refrain :
Tiken
Laisse tomber l’histoire, tu sais bien pourquoi
Monsieur le Président, sans incident quitte le pouvoir
Laissez tomber l’histoire, vous savez pourquoi, Messiers les Présidents
Quittez le Pouvoir Messieurs les Présidents, si vous aimez votre Peuple, quittez le Pouvoir
Refrain
The lyrics of Tiken Jah Fakoly's song Quitte le pouvoir convey a strong message of frustration and dissatisfaction with the current political situation in Ivory Coast. The song starts with Tiken accusing the ruling authorities of wasting the people's time for forty years and urging them to leave power. He also warns them of the possible repercussions if they leave the people in misery.
In the second verse, Tiken states that the authorities were not fairly elected and their refusal to step down has ruined everything. He reminds them that they could face trouble if they don't act soon. The third verse highlights the lack of change in behavior and the suffering of the people, who are tired of being under an ineffective government.
The chorus "Quitte le pouvoir" meaning "Leave power" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the urgency of the message. The final verse, sung by Awady, echoes the frustrations of the people, who are struggling to make ends meet and demanding change. He urges the authorities to release the people from their grip and step down peacefully without bloodshed.
Overall, the song is a potent call for change and an end to the political corruption and stagnation that have plagued Ivory Coast for far too long.
Line by Line Meaning
Quitte le pouvoir
The singer urges the president to leave his position of power.
Quitte le pouvoir
The singer repeats his request for the president to step down.
Je te dis quitte le pouvoir
The singer strongly expresses his demand for the president to relinquish his power.
Ça fait trop longtemps que tu nous fais perdre le temps
The president has been wasting time for too long.
Depuis quarante ans tu refuses de foutre le camp
For forty years, the president has refused to step down from power.
Tu pourrais avoir des emmerdes si tu nous laisses dans la merde
If the president continues to neglect his duties, he may face consequences.
Je t’avais prévenu que tu as été mal élu
The singer had warned the president that his election was flawed.
Mais tu t’es accroché, aujourd’hui tout est gâché
The president has held on to his power despite the warnings, and everything is now damaged.
Aucun changement dans vos comportements
Despite numerous changes in government, there has been no change in their behavior or actions.
Tu pourrais passer un sale moment si tu nous pourris le temps
The president may face criticism or punishment if he continues to waste time and neglect his duties.
On en a marre, on en a marre, on dit qu’on en a marre
The people are tired and fed up with the situation they are in.
Tu gouvernes mal, ton gouvernement man détourne mal les comptes monumentales
The president's government has been corrupt in handling the country's finances.
Man libère le Peuple
The people demand to be freed from their struggles and hardships.
Le mandat de plus, c’es le mandat de trop
The president has overstayed his time in power, and it's time for him to leave.
Voilà la porte, et sors dans le calme
The singer advises the president to exit peacefully through the door.
Laissez tomber l’histoire, vous savez pourquoi, Messiers les Présidents
The president and his government should let go of their power and step down for the good of the people.
Quittez le Pouvoir Messieurs les Présidents, si vous aimez votre Peuple, quittez le Pouvoir
The singer urges the president and his government to hand over their power to someone who will truly care for the people.
Contributed by Evan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@elinkinevillageofthefisher7564
Qui est là en 2024
@traoreseydou7236
Aujourd'hui le 4 janvier 2020 qui est là pour moi🇮🇹🙋♂️🇨🇮
@dialloamadoui6087
C'est pourquoi j'aime le Reggae, leurs music est toujours d'actualité.
@khadijamora6448
Surtout en France actuellement avec la réforme des retraites ,! Le peuple vaincra
@jinkas2367
Encore aujourd'hui avec les émeutes...
@massgueye3670
@@khadijamora6448😊😊😊😊😊😊
@massgueye3670
😊 2:51 2:52
@jeannotpenda5342
Le meilleur des meilleurs du célèbre Tiken Jah Fakoly cinq sur cinq j'❤️
@Abdoul693
Le bon moment est venue alpha Condé le son qui met la pression quitte le pouvoir
@moldelisationmoleculaire2809
c une très belle chanson à faire écouter par nos dirigeants avant et pendant les campagnes électorales.