RFI Musique - - African reggae - Tiken Jah Fakoly’s positive revolution

Tiken Jah Fakoly’s positive revolution

Message of hope

Paris

01/10/2010 -

As you might expect from the title of his latest album, African Revolution, Tiken Jah Fakoly, one of the high priests of African reggae, calls for an upheaval of African society, using education and union instead of weapons. A message of hope that he spreads through songs swaying with Mandink-tinted reggae. A revolutionary explains.

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RFI Musique: Would you say that you’re calling for an African “revolution” with this new opus?
Tiken Jah Fakoly: Yes, but I’m talking about a positive revolution! Revolutions like the one in France in 1789, which used weapons to destroy the existing power, led to some huge advances, but in Africa we wouldn’t survive that type of fight. We’ve been massacred so often that it would be terrible to use violence and start tearing each other up again. What we should do is join forces against leaders who don’t redistribute a country’s wealth to its children, and show them that we’re an aware society! I’d also like to see an end to this passive fatalism that has increasing numbers of young people reduced to begging in Abidjan airport. That’s the theme of the track Vieux Père. I’m not talking to young people who hold out their hand for money. That does nothing for Africa. Because if you hold out your hand, you end up in the pockets of the powerful: the politicians, the industrials and the West.

How do you think this “positive revolution” could come about?
Through education, encouraging critical reasoning, creating or organising civil society, through unions…. I think it’s vital that all children should go to school in Africa. Especially, and despite ethnic divisions (which governments really know how to play on!) we need to work together to find solutions to the common problems holding us back.

For example, in France there are regions with strong identities, but when there’s some threat to health, wages, education or any other general interest issue, citizens from Brittany to Corsica unite. That kind of basic cohesion is really lacking in Africa.

Why do you think African society is so divided?
Following 400 years of slavery, we lived through decades of colonisation before obtaining independence just fifty years ago. We’re still young and we’re having trouble getting our act together. Our first problem, as I said before, is a lack of union, which is fostered by policies: divide and rule better!

How can your voice strike a chord in such a combat?
Today, my voice can be heard loudly right through the continent down to South Africa. But as I explain in Je dis non, it’s not enough. Although a lot of people say they understand my message, now they need to act on it!

Even if I don’t manage to change mentalities before I finish my career, I think I’ll at least have planted a little seed. But the countless Africans who do want things to change will be the only actors of this evolution. I’m just a loud speaker saying: “Wake up and assume your responsibilities!”

To back your words with action, you’ve also launched an operation called One concert, one school. Tell us about it.
My contract with my record label stipulates that one concert per tour will go to funding a school. So, I’ve already participated in building a school near Timbuktu in Mali, in partnership with the Rhône-Alpes region in France, and I’ve sung in Annemasse for a primary school in Burkina Faso. That’s my contribution.