- Title: Reggae star Fakoly speaks of his latest album featuring pan African band
- Date: 4th October 2018
- Summary: WISE MEN BAND MEMBERS IN STUDIO LISTENING TO MUSIC MUSIC MIXER MUSICIAN LISTENING PRODUCER MIXING MUSIC
- Embargoed: 18th October 2018 17:00
- Keywords: Music Reggae Tiken Jah Fakoly political activism
- Location: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST/UNKNOWN LOCATIONS
- City: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST/UNKNOWN LOCATIONS
- Country: Ivory Coast
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Music
- Reuters ID: LVA00590NIC0N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: International Ivorian reggae star, Tiken Jah Fakoly is back in studio on home ground, Ivory Coast's capital Abidjan, working on his next album scheduled for release in March 2019.
The yet untitled album will be a special project bringing together up and coming musicians from Ivory Coast, as well as across West Africa.
Fakoly recently held audition sessions with local musicians playing different instruments. The winner will go to feature on Fakoly's upcoming album.
This will be the artist's first album in three years following the hugely successful "Roots", which he recorded in Jamaica.
This will also be the first time Fakoly records an album in his native Ivory Coast.
"I decided this time around to come and record in Africa, in Ivory Coast with African musicians, because we have musicians who are capable of recording albums, they are really good. I am used to doing concerts with them when I am passing through Abidjan or Bamako, something stirs in me that I don't feel when I am performing in Europe," he said. Concerned by the social and political situation of his country, Fakoly's music speaks on politics and injustice in Ivory Coast and all over Africa, and the new album will be no different.
Fakoly says his new album also aims to give a platform to young upcoming musicians.
"He's giving a chance to his younger brothers, which is a huge thing for us, because participating on an international album is really great, hats off to him," said Pascal Mani, a musician from a local band called Wise Men, who auditioned for Fakoly.
"II think the most important thing is that the music turns out great and that it makes people dance, those who listen to it or it pushes them to listen to the lyrics. That's the most important thing," added Fakoly.
For years, Fakoly, one of Africa's best-loved reggae voices has been known as a strong critic of his country Ivory Coast.
Fakoly went into self-imposed exile in Mali in September 2002, when dissident soldiers in Ivory Coast tried to overthrow President Laurent Gbagbo before seizing the country's northern half.
Fakoly returned to Ivory Coast in 2007 following a peace agreement, and still keenly follows what is happening in his country.
"We have come from far. The country needed to be stabilized. We have yet to fully reconcile even though there is dialogue happening. There is still a lot to do, but I hope that Ivorians will no continue to linger on it. We lost 3,000 citizens, so 2020 will not be easy, but you need to avoid falling in the same trap as 2010," he said.
The new album will also feature three artists including one from the diaspora, one from Jamaican and another from West Africa. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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