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Anger, like love, knows no frontiers. Coup de gueule (outburst) is the second album on Barclay from the Ivory Coast’s Tiken Jah Fakoly and the seventh in a career that started in the early nineties. It deals with the crises plaguing his continent and the challenges of the globalisation that has made the world into his transnational village.
Burning with controlled anger, Tiken appears to see himself as a musician of the world. The guitars of constant companion, Petit Conde, take flight over an Aloumaye graced with the presence of the poet and musician, Saramba Kouyaté.
The record is more than just reggae. Deme, influenced by a more traditional heritage — maternal in this case — handed down to the Dioula singer, whirls us away in a spiced-up soukouss dance that will come as a surprise to many.
Coup de Gueule is both an inward- and outward-looking record. Tiken has intentionally called on other artists who are also primarily citizens of the world.
Brass powerful enough to bring down all the world’s Jerichos, guitars to sharpen the convictions of all the dreadlock soldiers who have never taken an interest in African reggae, Coup de Gueule also reveals Tiken’s dreams of both real African unity — the hope of Ça va faire mal (something’s got to give) — and a depoliticised Islam in “the peaceful Allah”.
In fact, on this record Tiken Jah Fakoly manages to catch the ear of those who have not heard him before and at the same time ensure a little more commitment from those who already know that he is undeniably the spokesperson of an Africa that is open to the world. All without hatred or popularity-seeking, and in an unstoppable combination of French and Dioula that continues to ricochet through the air long after the rage has died. Who said you should never allow anger to influence you?
On October 8, 2005, Tiken Jah Fakoly will sing in the United against Malaria concert, Youssou N'Dour & Friends, at the Arena, Geneva.
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