Photo: Rama · CC BY-SA 2.0 fr · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regional
Tiken Jah Fakoly
Person · male · Ivory Coast · Odienné · born 1968 · recording since 1993
Ivorian reggae singer
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Also known as Doumbia Moussa Fakoly · Tiken Jah Fakoli · 蒂肯·贾·法科利
Timeline
18 events▣ Album 15◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1✦ Award 1
1960s
1990s
· Debut release
Debut release: Les Djelys
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
2000s
2010s
2020s
Biography
English biography525 words · 4 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1361631176
Biography
Doumbia Moussa Fakoly (born June 23, 1968 in Odienné), better known by his stage name Tiken Jah Fakoly (), is an Ivorian reggae singer and songwriter.
Early life
Doumbia Moussa Fakoly was born on 23 June 1968 in Odienné, Kabadougou Region, 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 later ascended to national recognition.
Career
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 Félix Houphouët-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 the many injustices done to the people of his country and Africans in general, as well as inciting calls for pan-Africanism and an African economic, political and cultural resurgence. As such, many African listeners feel a deep affinity with his lyrics as Fakoly speaks for oppressed people. This connection has helped make Tiken Jah Fakoly a much-listened artist throughout the world.
Since the rise in political instability and xenophobia in Côte d'Ivoire and after receiving death threats due to his lyrics, Fakoly has lived in exile in Bamako, Mali since 2003. In December 2007, Fakoly was declared persona non grata in Senegal after criticizing President Abdoulaye Wade.
In 2009 Tiken Jah launched a campaign entitled "Un concert une école", or One Concert, One School. Through the campaign, and in collaboration with institutions and associations, he was able to finance the construction of a school in the village of Touroni, and a college in Dianké, Mali. He held concerts in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea, accompanied by a vast communication campaign promoting education.
Tiken Jah Fakoly has recorded various tracks with other artists. He is featured on Steel Pulse: African Holocaust, on Didier Awadi: Stoppez les criminels, on Riké: Airt Frais, on Bernard Lavilliers: Carnets De Bord, on Amadou & Mariam: Dimanche À Bamako, on Dub Incorporation Diversité, and on Tata Pound: Cikan. He also appears on the compilation African Consciences with Mebgane N’Dour. He features in the movie Les Oiseaux Du Ciel, directed by Eliane de Latour. 2009 "Africa's Reggae Legend in the Making", Directed by Mackie Fagan.
Tiken Jah actively participated in the documentary "Sababou" by Samir Benchikh which aims to promote a positive image of Africa and especially Ivory Coast, by demonstrating how people like Tiken have been engaged in ameliorating the living conditions for people in West Africa through peace, democracy, fighting hunger, promoting education, etc.
In 2014 he contributed to the track Cocoa Na Chocolate with other African artists, in support of the Do Agric, It Pays campaign by ONE .
Personal life
Despite being a reggae singer and having a deep respect for Rastafari culture, Tiken Jah came from a Muslim family and is still a practicing Muslim today. His family was slow to support his reggae career. He occasionally smokes marijuana, but encourages others not to.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 26 | 87.5th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 31 | 90.7th |
| Studio albums | 15 | 94.6th |
| Awards recorded | 2 | 92.6th |
| Timeline events | 18 | 93th |
| Recording span (years) | 33 | 71.4th |
| Genres | 4 | 84.7th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (31 release groups · 15 studio albums)
Albums · 15
1993 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 6 tracks · 27:14
1Soungourouba4:532Djely4:233Rastaman3:584Ayebo5:195Nanzara4:356Imadjigui4:061994 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 6 tracks · 30:10
1Missiri5:402Baraka4:243Tounkan5:014Yassa4:475Bey Tagnini5:266Mouktar Touré4:521996 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 8 tracks · 34:00
1Délivrance3:382Plus jamais ça3:533Le Descendant4:314Don4:305Mangercratie4:156Djeli4:427Crazy World4:038Le Descendant (dub)4:281999 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 58:13
1Les Martyrs5:102Discrimination4:323Politiqui Kele4:304Otitelena4:415Nationalité5:326Toubabou4:297Ohba Ohba4:158Djourou5:059Sundjata5:0710Bognan4:2411Tata5:5012Africa (dub)4:382000 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 56:16
1Le pays va mal4:532Danga4:533Promesse de Caméléon4:554Justice4:585Baba4:426Allah Tando4:397Y'en a marre4:578Alpha Conde4:279Politiciens4:3010Les audits4:2111Tête de mule4:3612Kafri4:252002 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 51:24
1Françafrique4:232On a tout compris (mangercratie)4:133Justice3:424Soungourouba4:355Y’en a marre3:526Le Balayeur4:097Nazara4:278Missiri4:109Africa4:4710Le pays va mal4:1611Politiciens4:5812Délivrance3:522004 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 50:16
1Plus rien ne m'étonne4:112Quitte le pouvoir4:253Alou Mayé5:234Tonton d'America4:045Démé4:116Ça va faire mal3:547Kuma3:118Où veux-tu que j'aille3:189L'Afrique doit du fric4:4110Sauver4:2311Imadjigui4:3212Allah4:032007 · studio album
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Tracklist · 20 tracks · 1:21:24
Disc 11L’Africain4:022Ouvrez les frontières3:583Où aller où ?3:574Africain à Paris3:555Ayebada3:416Soldier4:257Non à l’excision3:308Foly3:509Viens voir3:4510Promesses bla bla4:4211Gauche droite3:0712Ma Côte d’Ivoire4:50Disc 21Question de peau3:492Africa Taferka4:083Si si4:054Les oiseaux du ciel4:365Baba5:026Délivrance (Zenzile dub mix)3:527Y’en a marre4:458Stoppez les criminels3:252010 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 46:02
1Africa Revolution4:132Je dis non !3:243Political War4:154Marley foly3:055Il faut se lever3:236Sinimory3:217Vieux père3:418Sors de ma télé3:399Votez3:2710Je ne veux pas ton pouvoir3:2411Initié3:3012Laisse-moi m'exprimer2:4813L'Afrique attend3:522014 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 34:24
1Dernier appel3:492Human Thing3:213Le Prix du paradis3:194Diaspora3:115Tata4:146Dakoro2:437War Ina Babylon3:288Too Much Confusion3:149Quand l'Afrique va se réveiller3:3510Saya3:302015 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 41:15
1Is It Because I'm Black?3:372Get Up, Stand Up3:243One Step Forward3:354Slavery Days4:105Zimbabwe3:556Fade Away3:127Brigadier Sabari4:078Hills and Valleys4:259Christopher Columbus3:3110Police and Thieves3:3111African3:482016 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 56:16
1Baba5:022Question de peau3:473Les oiseaux du ciel4:364Si si4:055Africa Taferka4:096An Ka Willi3:367La porte de l'histoire4:128Génération3:259Koumani3:4210Africa Stop Ebola5:3511École2:4112Manssa3:2513Conakry électricité4:1014Délivrance (Zenzile dub mix)3:512019 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 44:10
1Le monde est chaud (avec Soprano)3:282Pourquoi nous fuyons3:203No no no3:214Libya3:585Ça vole4:206Dieu nous attend4:037Kungo3:138We Love Africa3:259Kodjougou3:4710Ngomi3:5011Rasta3:3312Ecologie3:522022 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 53:18
1Enfant de la rue4:162Où est-ce que tu vas ?3:313Religion4:204Beau continent4:305I Can Hear4:116Braquage de pouvoir3:297Ça va aller4:228Don’t Worry3:289Farana4:4110Gouvernement 20 ans4:2211Massa4:1312Le peuple a le pouvoir3:0413Colonisé4:512024 · studio album
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Tracklist · 19 tracks · 54:04
1Intro // Plus rien ne m'étonne0:332Plus rien ne m'étonne4:443Tonton d'America3:274Intro // Alou Maye0:165Alou Maye3:036Intro // Les Martyrs0:317Les Martyrs4:308Djourou3:509Délivrance3:2910Le balayeur3:5911Africain à Paris3:4612Intro // Enfant de la rue0:2913Enfant de la rue3:4014Ça va faire mal3:4915Ouvrez les frontières2:5316Arriver à rêver2:5017Intro // Justice0:2218Justice3:1419Tata4:39
Single · 8
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Question De PeauSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 3:481Question de peau3:48 | 2005 | ||
| 2010 | Je dis non !Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 3:241Je dis non !3:24 | 21 June 2010 | ||
| 2019 | Le monde est chaudSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 3:281Le monde est chaud3:28 | 19 March 2019 | ||
| 2022 | Free WaterSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 3:141Free Water3:14 | 22 March 2022 | ||
| 2022 | I Can Hear (radio edit)Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 3:371I Can Hear (radio edit)3:37 | 22 July 2022 | ||
| 2022 | Humble AfricanSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 3:271Humble African3:27 | 12 August 2022 | ||
| 2024 | Juste un peu d'amourSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 3:511Juste un peu d'amour3:51 | 3 February 2024 | ||
| 2026 | Là-basSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 3:171Là-bas3:17 | 18 September 2026 |
Album · 6
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Tiken Jah FakolySearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks · 58:101Françafrique4:23 2On a tout compris4:13 3Alou Maye5:25 4Missiri4:09 5Quitte le pouvoir4:23 6Kuma3:12 7Plus rien ne m'étonne4:10 8Soungourouba4:33 9Y'en a marre3:52 10Tonton d'America4:05 11Justice3:42 12Demé4:12 13Allah4:01 14Délivrance3:50 | Compilation | 10 October 2005 | |
| 2008 | Live à ParisSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 17 tracks · 1:19:171Medley: Discrimination / Les Martyrs / Y en a marre / Baba / Africa4:43 2Ça va faire mal3:52 3Justice3:46 4Foly4:07 5Le Balayeur5:10 6Plus rien ne m'étonne7:27 7L'Africain4:05 8Fou3:54 9Viens voir3:54 10Ohba Ohba4:02 11Tonton d'America5:01 12Ayebada5:03 13Gauche droite5:11 14Ouvrez les frontières4:30 15Africain à Paris4:47 16Délivrance4:01 17Françafrique5:44 | Live | 22 September 2008 | |
| 2016 | Best ofSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 19 tracks · 1:17:181Mangercratie4:14 2Le descendant4:31 3Les martyrs5:08 4Le Pays Va Mal4:16 5Francafrique4:26 6Justice3:44 7Y'en a marre3:49 8Délivrance3:53 9Plus rien ne m'étonne4:11 10Quitte le pouvoir4:23 11Tonton d'America4:04 12Ouvrez les frontières3:59 13Africain à Paris3:55 14Non à l'excision3:29 15African révolution4:15 16Dernier appel3:49 17Le prix du paradis3:22 18Tata4:17 19Is It Because I'm Black?3:33 | Compilation | 25 May 2016 | |
| 2016 | L'intégrale Des Albums OriginauxSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 15 tracks · 1:02:471Baba5:02 2Question de peau3:47 3Les oiseaux du ciel4:36 4Si si4:06 5Africa Taferka4:10 6An Ka Willi3:37 7La porte de l'histoire4:12 8Réconciliation6:24 9Génération3:25 10Koumani3:43 11Africa Stop Ebola5:36 12École2:42 13Manssa3:26 14Conakry électricité4:10 15Délivrance (Zenzile dub mix)3:51 | Compilation | 16 September 2016 | |
| 2025 | Live Salle PleyelSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks · 59:171Africain à Paris4:07 2Delivrance4:07 3Le prix du paradis5:20 4Toubabou3:22 5Djourou5:48 6Inite4:11 7Plus rien ne m'etonne6:06 8Tonton d'America4:05 9Ouvrez les frontieres8:48 10La guerre est là2:14 11Ngomi3:34 12Les martyrs7:35 | Live | 14 February 2025 | |
| — | Live à Juan-les-PinsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 9 tracks1Plus jamais ça 2Bognan 3Le pays va mal 4Africa 5Les Martyrs 6On a tout compris 7Le Balayeur 8Françafrique 9Y en a marre | Live | — |
EP · 2
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | AlerteSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 8 tracks · 30:541La porte de l’histoire4:09 2Alerte3:29 3Vieux Père3:43 4Nazara (Dub)4:28 5Missiri (Dub)4:12 6Africa (Dub)4:47 7La porte de l’histoire (Dub)4:02 8Alerte (Dub)2:04 | 25 February 2012 | ||
| 2023 | Braquage de pouvoir (Inédits)Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 5 tracks · 16:301Compliqué3:05 2Laissez le peuple libre3:14 3Tous ensemble3:21 4La guerre est là3:30 5Te prendre dans mes bras3:20 | 16 June 2023 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Tiken Jah Fakoly head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 26 | 87.5th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 31 | 90.7th |
| Studio albums | 15 | 94.6th |
| Awards recorded | 2 | 92.6th |
| Timeline events | 18 | 93th |
| Recording span (years) | 33 | 71.4th |
| Genres | 4 | 84.7th |
Awards & honours
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Victory of the album of traditional musics or musics of the world | won | |
| 2003 | Victory of the album of traditional musics or musics of the world | won |
Line-up
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Les Paris Bamako(band) | — | present |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 fr · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tiken_Jah_Fakoly-IMG_5344.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/edef3cfa-4e5e-4d64-8bd8-20f9dc1d8caddiscography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/edef3cfa-4e5e-4d64-8bd8-20f9dc1d8cadcore—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q263170genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q263170seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiken_Jah_Fakolybiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiken_Jah_Fakoly
Why this artist is in the database
- List of reggae musicians
Tier rule: notable long tail (listeners 0, 26 language versions)
Image: Rama · CC BY-SA 2.0 fr · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q263170 · MusicBrainz: edef3cfa-4e5e-4d64-8bd8-20f9dc1d8cad
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