Tiken Jah Fakoly: “For me it’s a return to my roots. Traditional instruments rocked my childhood. My father listened to Guinean and Malian music in which we found this type of instruments. But it’s also a dream come true. I always dreamed of making an acoustic album to give power to the voice. I’ve been talking regarding it for 10 years.”
Very early on, you wrote incisive texts to “raise awareness”. Why did you choose this path in music?
“At a very young age, I was already listening to Bob Marley in my small village in the north of Ivory Coast. There, they listened to a lot of reggae. One day, a young English-speaking man was passing through and I asked him to explain Bob Marley’s songs to me. I quickly understood that it was a style of music beneficial to Africa which needs to express itself and wake up.”
Choosing another style would undoubtedly have saved you from death threats following your positions…
”Threats, travel bans, censorship… This is part of the price to pay when you make reggae. We should not expect only praise. Reggae is a music of counter-power. This is the musical branch of civil society in countries where there are serious problems. You know: even Bob Marley took a bullet when he was rehearsing. Reggae scares governments and certain people. Politicians are often manipulative and reggae detects that. I paid for it by being banned from staying in certain countries, yes.”
More generally, what is your definition of reggae?
”For me, it is a music of combat, of awakening consciences. Since Bob Marley, reggae has been a word for the voiceless who cannot express themselves. This genre denounces injustices and inequalities. He takes a stand on current issues.”
Is it really a genre that can be danced?
”I think we can dance while listening to strong messages. In many countries in Africa, just dancing means something. Reggae is not danced like other music. Watching someone dance to reggae is like watching someone in a fight. It’s music that moves you.”
Many people in Europe and elsewhere link reggae to Bob Marley and have the image of rather “zen” singers who take drugs. What does this inspire you?
”Bob Marley, who is the prophet of reggae, never hid the fact that he smoked cannabis. From that moment on, everyone will attach the image of reggae to cannabis. In the rock or pop world, there are also drugs circulating but we don’t necessarily make the connection. Babylon (Word designating the materialist West according to Tiken Jah Fakoly, Editor’s note) wanted to use cannabis to fight reggae. However, many people in suits also smoke cannabis. This smell follows us but I don’t think cannabis stops reggae from fighting its fight.”
Speaking of Bob Marley, a biopic regarding the Jamaican singer-songwriter will be released this February 14. Are you going to watch it?
”I actually heard regarding it. I’m going to go see it as soon as it comes out. It’s important to see it because I want to know certain details of the journey of the prophet of reggae. I went to Jamaica, to his grave where he was buried and to several museums dedicated to him. This film will allow me to know more. It’s good that we know the truth regarding him. The mission he accomplished is above all the behavior he has had. We must not forget that he was a human. He succeeded in imposing this music throughout the world and leaving messages that are still relevant today like Africa Unite.”
You have invested a lot in financing educational establishments. Why fight this fight rather than another?
”It’s natural for me. I always told myself that it was the school that would wake up Africa. It’s 2024, people still vote because they were given a t-shirt or money. I wanted to show the importance of education. It is she who will allow you to vote for a candidate. All the manipulation by the West and certain African politicians is done because the majority of Africans cannot read or write. It is through education that we will be able, for example, to see the importance of African unity.”
What’s your news in the near future? Do you plan to come and perform in Belgium?
”At the moment I’m focused on releasing the album on February 16th. But I also work on my schedule. My next tour will start from March 8 in France. We will be at the Francofolies Esch/Alzette on June 8 as well. We should then also go to Germany, Canada and… Belgium. Dates will be announced soon.”
