Ivory Coast has become, after Jamaica, one of the hubs of reggae throughout the world, thanks in particular to Tiken Jah Fakoly.
By Jah Fakoly, RFI Découvertes prize in 2000.
At RFI, we have a nose for discovering talents and nuggets that last. More than 30 years of career for Doumbia Moussa Fakoly, better known as Tiken Jah Fakoly, originally from Odienné in the northwest of Ivory Coast. He comes from a family of blacksmiths, his father was a warrior leader. But Tiken will quickly become interested in reggae at a time when Alpha Blondy is a hit around the world.
The older generations who listened to reggae listened to the Ivorian Alpha Blondy who had just placed Abidjan on the world reggae map. After Jamaica, Ivory Coast is one of the first lands of reggae in the world. And precisely, Tiken Jah Fakoly is totally part of the continuity of this reggae movement in Ivory Coast, but also in Africa and the rest of the planet.
He may have encountered some censorship issues here and there. It is the essence of reggae to tell the truth and denounce everything that is wrong; like in 1999 with the title The sweeper criticizing the putsch in Ivory Coast by General Guéï. It will even be persona non grata in Senegal after demanding the resignation of President Abdoulaye Wade. As Georges Clemenceau said, “ If you don’t have enemies, you haven’t done anything. ».
Acoustic is his latest album. These are nineteen titles (which he will perform in concert in an acoustic version on November 14 and 15 at the Salle Pleyel in Paris): there are plenty of guests like this title The Martyrs in duo with the Englishman of Tanzanian origin Tiggs da Author.
