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.
Sundjata
Tiken Jah Fakoly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mandé saraka mina nyé
Mande ka lou sawa ni yé
Dô lou koama sogolon diata
Dô lou koama mangah diata
Dô lou koama sogosogo simbô
Dô lou koama mande dirraaaaaaaaa
Soundiata am bi fora
De 1235 à kirina
Soundiata am bi fora
Ton ancètre s'appelait bilal bolama
Bilal Bolama suivi de Lawalo
Lawalo a éte suivi de Latal Kalabi
Latal Kalabi Damal Kalabi
Damal Kalabi laylatoul Kalabi
Laylatoula Kalabi Kalabi Bomba
Kalabi Bomba hamadou Kane
Hamadou Kane suivi de Tôgnogon Kélé
Tôgnogon Kélé suivi de Bali Ninnin
Bali Ninnin suivi de Belo
Belo suivi de Belo Bakô
Belo Bakô a été suivi de Maghan Konfata
Maghan Konfata Soudiata Kéita
Hannnnnnn Soundiata Kéita
Soundiata Kéita am bi fora
I ta bèmètchè tôgô toungné Bilal Bolama
Bilal Bolama ta dén ne toungné Lawalo
Lawalo ta dén toungné Latal Kalabi
Latal Kalabi Damal Kalabi
Damal Kalabi Laylatoul Kalabi
Laylatoul Kalabi Kalabi bomba
Kalabi Bomba Hamadou Kane
Hamadou Kane ta dén toun Tôgnogon Kéle
Tôgnogon Kélé ta dén ne toungné Bali Ninnin yé
Bali Ninnin ta dén toungné Bélo
Bélo ta dén toungne Bélo Bako
Bélo Bako ta dén toungné Maghan Konfata
Maghan Konfata Soundiata Kéita
Allah o'akbar
Ayebô ayebô Soundiata brana
Ayebô ayebô mande diarra nanan
Ayebô mousso lou ayebô
Ayebô mali mouso ayebô
Ayebô mousso lou ayebô
Ayebô gabon mousso ayebô
The lyrics to Tiken Jah Fakoly's song Sundjata pay homage to the legacy of Soundiata Keita, the founder of the Malian Empire. The opening lines of "Soudiata soundiata Kéita am bi fora" directly address Soundiata Keita and express gratitude for his victories. The next lines celebrate the unity and strength of the Mandé people, proclaiming that "Mandé saraka mina n'yé" ("Mande is very strong") and "Mande ka lou sawa ni yé" ("Mande will always exist"). The subsequent lines are a list of the lineage from Soundiata's ancestors to his descendants, a way of tracing the history and continuity of the Malian people. The final lines of the song repeat the praises for Soundiata and the Mandé people.
The lyrics to Sundjata are a tribute to Malian history and culture, emphasizing the importance of unity, strength, and resilience. The name "Soundiata" refers to Soundiata Keita, who was a legendary leader and warrior that founded the Malian Empire in the 13th century. Soundiata's legacy is celebrated in Mali and throughout West Africa as a symbol of resistance, perseverance, and cultural pride.
Line by Line Meaning
Soudiata soundiata Kéita am bi fora
Soundiata Kéita, we thank you
Mandé saraka mina nyé
Mandé, under your protection we are safe
Mande ka lou sawa ni yé
Mandé will never decline
Dô lou koama sogolon diata
The words of Sogolon Diata
Dô lou koama mangah diata
The words of Mangah Diata
Dô lou koama sogosogo simbô
The words of Sogosogo Simbo
Dô lou koama mande dirraaaaaaaaa
The words of Mande Dirraaaaaaaaa
Soundiata am bi fora
Soundiata, we thank you
Nous te remercions pour ta victoire
We thank you for your victory
De 1235 à kirina
From 1235 in Kirina
Ton ancètre s'appelait bilal bolama
Your ancestor was named Bilal Bolama
Bilal Bolama suivi de Lawalo
Bilal Bolama followed by Lawalo
Lawalo a éte suivi de Latal Kalabi
Lawalo was followed by Latal Kalabi
Latal Kalabi Damal Kalabi
Latal Kalabi, Damal Kalabi
Damal Kalabi laylatoul Kalabi
Damal Kalabi, Laylatoul Kalabi
Laylatoula Kalabi Kalabi Bomba
Laylatoula Kalabi, Kalabi Bomba
Kalabi Bomba hamadou Kane
Kalabi Bomba, Hamadou Kane
Hamadou Kane suivi de Tôgnogon Kélé
Hamadou Kane followed by Tôgnogon Kélé
Tôgnogon Kélé suivi de Bali Ninnin
Tôgnogon Kélé followed by Bali Ninnin
Bali Ninnin suivi de Belo
Bali Ninnin followed by Belo
Belo suivi de Belo Bakô
Belo followed by Belo Bakô
Belo Bakô a été suivi de Maghan Konfata
Belo Bakô was followed by Maghan Konfata
Maghan Konfata Soudiata Kéita
Maghan Konfata, Soundiata Kéita
Hannnnnnn Soundiata Kéita
Hannnnnnn Soundiata Kéita
I ta bèmètchè tôgô toungné Bilal Bolama
I call upon you with the name of Bilal Bolama
Bilal Bolama ta dén ne toungné Lawalo
Bilal Bolama gave way to Lawalo
Lawalo ta dén toungné Latal Kalabi
Lawalo gave way to Latal Kalabi
Latal Kalabi Damal Kalabi
Latal Kalabi, Damal Kalabi
Damal Kalabi Laylatoul Kalabi
Damal Kalabi, Laylatoul Kalabi
Laylatoul Kalabi Kalabi bomba
Laylatoul Kalabi, Kalabi bomba
Kalabi Bomba Hamadou Kane
Kalabi Bomba, Hamadou Kane
Hamadou Kane ta dén toun Tôgnogon Kéle
Hamadou Kane gave way to Tôgnogon Kéle
Tôgnogon Kélé ta dén ne toungné Bali Ninnin yé
Tôgnogon Kélé gave way to Bali Ninnin
Bali Ninnin ta dén toungné Bélo
Bali Ninnin gave way to Belo
Bélo ta dén toungne Bélo Bako
Belo gave way to Belo Bakô
Bélo Bakô ta dén toungné Maghan Konfata
Belo Bakô gave way to Maghan Konfata
Maghan Konfata Soundiata Kéita
Maghan Konfata, Soundiata Kéita
Allah o'akbar
Allah is the greatest
Ayebô ayebô Soundiata brana
Ayebô ayebô Soundiata brana
Ayebô ayebô mande diarra nanan
Ayebô ayebô mande diarra nanan
Ayebô mousso lou ayebô
Ayebô mousso lou ayebô
Ayebô mali mouso ayebô
Ayebô mali mouso ayebô
Ayebô mousso lou ayebô
Ayebô mousso lou ayebô
Ayebô gabon mousso ayebô
Ayebô gabon mousso ayebô
Contributed by Liliana N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.