Tiken Jah Fakoly, whose birth name is Doumbia Moussa Fakoly, is an Ivorian reggae singer and songwriter. He was born on June 23, 1968, in Odienné, Kabadougou Region, in the north-western area of Côte d'Ivoire. He comes from a family of blacksmiths and is a practicing Muslim, though his family was initially slow to support his reggae career.
Fakoly discovered reggae music early in life and formed his first group, Djelys, in 1987. He began composing songs in secret around the age of 18 in Odienné, and only started to openly pursue music after his father passed away in 1987. The group, Djelys, held their first concert in 1993. Fakoly became known at a regional level before achieving national recognition.His music, a powerful form of African reggae, is strongly message-oriented, with themes centered on social justice and African politics. He sings about African regimes being autocratic and kleptocratic, and the oppression and lack of freedom of expression experienced by the people. The injustices and inequalities he observed both in Odienné, Abidjan, and internationally, inspired his early compositions. He was conscious of these issues from a young age, recalling attempts to put order to things he saw as wrong, even as a child.After the first album, Fakoly started performing in France when he had friends there who organized concerts for him. He has released numerous albums throughout his career, including Mangercratie and Cours d'histoire (initially released only in Côte d'Ivoire), Françafrique (2002), Coup de gueule (2004), L'Africain (2007), and African Revolution (2010), among others. He has also collaborated with musicians in Jamaica, recording albums like FrançAfrique and Coup de Gueule there, working with producers like Sly & Robbie. His work has earned him recognition, including a Victoires de la Musique award in 2003 for Françafrique in the Reggae Album category and the inaugural Freemuse Award in 2008. Tiken Jah Fakoly is regarded as one of reggae music's most powerful voices and symbols, using his music as a medium for social commentary and change.