Tiken Jah Fakoly's career began in 1977 when, instead of studying, he would dance in his hometown of Dilleba. His nickname, "Tiken Jah," originated from a young Ghanaian who misheard his father calling him "Tiani" (which means little boy in Malinké) as "Tiken." Initially annoyed by this, Tiken Jah eventually embraced the nickname, especially as it reflected his love for reggae music. His decision to focus solely on reggae dancing at events stemmed from his desire to be accepted by others, rather than being seen as an outsider.

His deep dive into reggae music began when he started borrowing cassette tapes from his older brothers, who visited him in the village. Inspired by the likes of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, and U-Roy, he immersed himself in their music and sought to understand their messages of peace, unity, and equality. Despite initially believing that reggae could only be sung in English, he later realized that this limitation was due to the lack of examples rather than any inherent constraint. Witnessing his older brother release an album motivated Tiken Jah to pursue his own musical aspirations.

In 1982, Tiken Jah Fakoly began singing at events, despite not immediately achieving commercial success. He persevered, practicing relentlessly from 1989 to 1991, with his band primarily consisting of math and other subject teachers who played music after school hours. His first concert on August 27, 1991, marked a turning point, garnering attention and encouragement from both fans and curious onlookers. This positive reception fueled his determination to continue pursuing music.

In 1993, he released his debut album, which gained him recognition in Ivory Coast and led to his first producer. He followed this up with a second album in 1994. However, it was his third album, "Mangercratie," released in late 1996 or early 1997, that significantly boosted his career, first in West Africa and later in France. His fourth album, "Cours d'histoire," released in 1999 and mixed in Jamaica, further solidified his reputation.

Subsequent albums, including "Caméléon" in 2001 and "FrançAfrique" in 2002, recorded in Jamaica, continued to expand his influence. In October 2004, he released the excellent album "Coup de Gueule," followed by "L'Africain" in 2007 and "African Revolution" in 2010, which is arguably one of his best works yet. Throughout his career, Tiken Jah Fakoly's music has been characterized by its powerful messages and unwavering commitment to social justice and activism. (source reggae.fr)