Tiken Jah Fakoly, born as Doumbia Moussa Fakoly, entered the world of reggae in the late 1980s, forming his first band, Les Djelis. Amidst political turmoil in the Ivory Coast after President Felix Houphouët-Boigny’s death in 1993, Tiken emerged as a vocal critic, rallying the youth behind him. As tensions escalated, he transitioned from a warrior to a pacifist, seeking refuge in Mali during the civil war of 2002, which fractured his homeland further.
A descendant of Fakoly Koumba Fakoly Daaba, who served under Emperor Soundiata Keïta in the 13th century, Tiken Jah Fakoly’s lineage carries a rich history of resistance and liberation.
In 2007, Tiken Jah embarked on his acoustic journey with producer Jonathan Quarmby, culminating in the album L’Africain. Subsequent albums, African Revolution (2010), Dernier Appel (2013), and Racines (2015), introduced his music to a wide audience, highlighting his vocal skill and commitment to tradition.
Tiken’s songs “Les Martyrs” (2000), “Délivrance” (1999), and “Enfant de la rue” (2022) reflected his democratic approach, while lyrics like those in “Plus rien de m’étonne” resonated with contemporary issues.
Collaborations with artists like Bernard Lavilliers, Chico César, and Mathieu Chédid enriched Tiken’s music, mixing diverse cultural influences with his Pan-African perspective.
The release of Acoustic marked a departure from traditional reggae, emphasizing organic sounds and African rhythms. Tiken’s commitment to social justice and historical truth remained steadfast, as evident in tracks like “Plus rien de m’étonne.”
Through his music, Tiken Jah Fakoly embodies the spirit of protest and resilience, following in the footsteps of reggae legends like Bob Marley, Alpha Blondy, and Lucky Dube.
Discography
Les Djelys (Fakoly Production, 1993)
Missiri (Fakoly Production, 1994)
Mangercratie (Louma, 1999)
Cours d’histoire (Louma, 1999)
Françafrique (Barclay Records, 2002)
Coup de gueule ((Barclay Records, 2004)
L’Africain (Wrasse Records, 2007)
Le Caméléon (Barclay Records, 2008)
Live à Paris (Wrasse Records, 2008)
African Revolution (Barclay Records, 2010)
Dernier Appel (Universal Music, 2014)
Racines (Barclay Records, 2015)
Le monde est chaud (Barclay Records, 2019)
Braquage de Pouvoir (Chapter Two, Wagram Music, 2022)
Acoustic (Chapter Two, Wagram Music, 2024)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.