Tiken Jah Fakoly: Mar 9, 2011
Batuki Music Society and Small World Music are proud to present the Toronto premiere of
Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at the Lula Lounge
Following in the footsteps of his musical mentor, Alpha Blondy, Tiken Jah Fakoly has established himself as one of the figureheads of the reggae scene in Africa. Fusing his infectious reggae beat with hard-hitting lyrics Fakoly has become a spokesperson for an entire generation of music fans, speaking out on political and social issues through his songs. His huge success in France, where he has sold over 100,000 albums has propelled him to currently be the best selling African Reggae artist.
Tiken Jah Fakoly plays music “to wake up the consciences”. His music speaks about many injustices done to the people of Ivory Coast, his country, and those over Africa. 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.
His new album African Revolution is exactly what it claims to be: African and revolutionary. Before anything else he is revolutionary in his method of work. A trip to Tuff Gong, Bob Marley’s studio in Kingston, was inevitable to place these three rhythmic sizes: Glen Browne (bass), Marc Dawson (drum kit) and Mickey Chung (guitar). Then there was Bamako. It is there in his studio that he concocted the music on the border of reggae and the mandingue blues. The magic tones of ngoni, kora, soukou (violin with one string) and balafon were familiar to us, but Tiken Jah Fakoly knew how to capture their soul. African Revolution stands out as a ranging-milestone, not only for the artist, yet for all the reggae stages. A breath of fresh air, an example that will hand out the grain to grind an all-new generation…
Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. West, Toronto
For dinner reservations 416 588 0307
Doors at 8 pm. Show at 9 pm.
$25 advance / $30 at the door
Il Faut Se Lever – African Revolution, 2010
