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.
Votez
Tiken Jah Fakoly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A nou votéra yé a nou ma président yé bré
A nana fô ka lé ba fê ka kê mêri yé
A nou votéra yé a nou ma mêri yé bré
Ni votez séra ou bé na fô en n’ka so yé nô
Ni votez bana en té ôlou yé bré
Ni votez séra ou bé na fô en n’ka so yé nô
Ni votez bana en té ôlou yé bré.
Ni votez séra ou bé na fô en n’ka so yé nô
Ni votez bana en té ôlou yé bré
N’go ni votez séra ou bé na fô en n’ka so yé nô
Ni votez bana en té ôlou yé bré
Ou bé na kêmin kêmin nou di
Ka kêmin filà nou di n’kan ka voté
Ou bé na kêmin kêmin nou di
Ka kêmin filà nou di n’kan ka voté
Ou bé na kêmin kêmin nou di
Ka kêmin filà nou di n’kan ka voté
Ou bé na kêmin filà nou di
Ka kêmin kêmin nou di n’kan ka voté
A nou votéra à nou macô ma sé ka gnanabô
A nou votéra a nou ma président yé bré
N’ka nou votéra a nou macô ma sé ka gnanabô
A nou votéra a nou ma mairi yé bré.
A nana fô ka lé ba fê ka kê mêri yé
A nou votéra yé a nou ma mêri yé bré
A nana fô ka lé ba fê ka kê président yé
A nou votéra yé en nou ma président yé bré
The lyrics of Tiken Jah Fakoly's "Votez" reflect a call to action for citizens to exercise their right to vote in elections. The repetition of the refrain, "Ni votez séra ou bé na fô en n’ka so yé nô, Ni votez bana en té ôlou yé bré" emphasizes the importance of voting and the fact that not voting means giving up one's voice and power in their own governance. The first two verses call for voters to choose their preferred candidate for both the presidency and the mayoral positions, and the remainder of the song encourages people to take the responsibility of voting seriously and not follow the path of those who abstain from voting.
Throughout the song, Tiken Jah Fakoly uses a combination of French and Bambara languages to express his message in a way that resonates with people across West Africa. The use of African languages also highlights the importance of participation in African democracies and that voting is an important way of upholding democratic values. The use of the phrase "ka kêmin filà" (let us go and vote) repeatedly throughout the song emphasizes that voting is an action that requires movement and participation.
Overall, Tiken Jah Fakoly's "Votez" is a call to action that encourages people to participate in their own democracies by voting. The song is a reminder that a democracy is only as strong as the participation of its citizens and that voting is an important way to ensure that people's voices are heard and their concerns are addressed.
Line by Line Meaning
A nana fô ka lé ba fê ka kê président yé
It is necessary for us to talk about who the president will be
A nou votéra yé a nou ma président yé bré
We will vote for our preferred presidential candidate
A nana fô ka lé ba fê ka kê mêri yé
It is necessary for us to talk about who the mayor will be
A nou votéra yé a nou ma mêri yé bré
We will vote for our preferred mayoral candidate
Ni votez séra ou bé na fô en n’ka so yé nô
Whether we vote or not, we will feel the consequences
Ni votez bana en té ôlou yé bré
Choosing not to vote is still a decision with a result
(Refrain)
Repeating the importance of voting and the consequences of not voting
Ou bé na kêmin kêmin nou di
We must choose the right path to follow
Ka kêmin filà nou di n’kan ka voté
The path to follow is to vote
A nou votéra à nou macô ma sé ka gnanabô
We will vote for our future to be better
N’ka nou votéra a nou macô ma sé ka gnanabô
We must vote for our future to be better
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