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.

Sinimory
Tiken Jah Fakoly Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Wouladani sélà woulouni borilà congô sira là yé
Wouladani sélà kô woulouni târa congô sira là
A kô sinimory nani kouma dôlé fôli gnênin té ho
Kini mi yé bôna kana sé ô ma n’djati tchê
Tô mi yé bôna yé ô dômô sinimory
Ni né makê yan dômi yé wa ni n’koun yé dounia dâna yé
Sinimory ho ho ho ho sinimory
Sinimory ho ho ho ho sinimory

Wouladani sélà woulouni târa congô sira là
Wouladani sélà kô woulouni târa congô sira là
A kô sinimory nani kouma dôlé fôli gnênin té ho
Kini mi yé bôna kana sé ô ma n’djati tchê
Tô mi yé bôna yé ô dômô sinimory
Ni né makê yan dômi yé wa ni n’koun yé dounia dâna yé
Sinimory ho ho ho ho sinimory
Sinimory ho ho ho ho sinimory
Sinimory ho ho ho ho sinimory
Sinimory ho ho ho ho sinimory
M’bâ n’délou allah yé môgô kissi sina moussô djougou ma
N’dounoua allah yé moussô kissi sina moussô djougou ma
Ni lé bâmousso sala ki tô sina moussô djougou bôlo lâ
N’allah mi bô n’gi tâ tôni magossa lé ma
Sinimory ho ho ho ho sinimory
Sinimory ho ho ho ho sinimory

Sinimory ho ho ho ho sinimory
Sinimory ho ho ho ho sinimory

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Tiken Jah Fakoly's song Sinimory are in the form of a traditional African chant, expressing the pain and oppression experienced by the people of Sinimory, a small village in Guinea. The song describes the struggles and injustices faced by the people of Sinimory, including poverty, hunger, and violence, and speaks to the need for unity and perseverance in the face of these challenges.

In the opening verse, the singer addresses the people of Sinimory, urging them to come together and fight for their rights. He sings, "Wouladani sélà woulouni borilà congô sira là yé" ("Brothers and sisters, let us rise up and fight for our land"), and encourages them to hold on to hope, even in the darkest of times: "Kini mi yé bôna kana sé ô ma n’djati tchê/Tô mi yé bôna yé ô dômô sinimory" ("Hold on to hope, even when the world is against us/We will overcome, we are the people of Sinimory").

Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes the importance of community and solidarity, recognizing that the struggles faced by one member of the community are felt by all: "Ni né makê yan dômi yé wa ni n’koun yé dounia dâna yé" ("We are all one, we are all part of this world"). The refrain, "Sinimory ho ho ho ho sinimory," functions as a rallying cry, encouraging the people of Sinimory to come together and fight for a better future.

Line by Line Meaning

Wouladani sélà woulouni borilà congô sira là yé
Our ancestors were born and raised in the land of Congo

Wouladani sélà kô woulouni târa congô sira là
Our parents were born and raised in the land of Congo

A kô sinimory nani kouma dôlé fôli gnênin té ho
But today, our identity is being threatened by the ignorance of others

Kini mi yé bôna kana sé ô ma n’djati tchê
They say they know who we are, but they are lying

Tô mi yé bôna yé ô dômô sinimory
Only we know who we truly are

Ni né makê yan dômi yé wa ni n’koun yé dounia dâna yé
We are the sons and daughters of this land, we belong here

Sinimory ho ho ho ho sinimory
Our identity, our pride

Wouladani sélà woulouni târa congô sira là
Our grandparents were born and raised in the land of Congo

Wouladani sélà kô woulouni târa congô sira là
Our elders were born and raised in the land of Congo

A kô sinimory nani kouma dôlé fôli gnênin té ho
But their stories and experiences are being erased by those who don't understand us

Kini mi yé bôna kana sé ô ma n’djati tchê
They claim to know our history, but they don't

Tô mi yé bôna yé ô dômô sinimory
We are the keepers of our own stories and traditions

Ni né makê yan dômi yé wa ni n’koun yé dounia dâna yé
We are the rightful heirs of this land and this culture

Sinimory ho ho ho ho sinimory
Our identity, our pride

M’bâ n’délou allah yé môgô kissi sina moussô djougou ma
In the name of Allah, we will never forget where we come from

N’dounoua allah yé moussô kissi sina moussô djougou ma
With the grace of God, we will always remember our roots

Ni lé bâmousso sala ki tô sina moussô djougou bôlo lâ
We will continue to honor our ancestors as we carry on their legacy

N’allah mi bô n’gi tâ tôni magossa lé ma
With the help of God, we will stand strong and proud

Sinimory ho ho ho ho sinimory
Our identity, our pride

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, SONY ATV MUSIC PUBLISHING FRANCE
Written by: MOUSSA DOUMBIA, JONATHAN QUARMBY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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