Tiken Jah Fakoly, Reggae, and African Women

Reggae, a genre of music originating in Jamaica and deeply rooted in Africa, is not merely politically engaged. It also protests against all forms of injustice suffered by women, particularly those in Africa. Tiken Jah Fakoly, one of the leading figures of this music, thus presents himself as an advocate for African women. In addition to his various tributes to both mothers and wives-whom he regards as the foundation of socialization and family harmony-he champions female leadership and opposes all practices that hinder the fulfillment and emancipation of women in Africa. Tiken Jah's commitment to women raises the following questions: Could reggae be a tool for feminist movements in Africa? Is this music not essential to gender studies in the social sciences? Thus, this book, which answers these questions while implicitly re-evaluating reggae and African women, is of interest not only to the academic world and feminist research, but above all to those passionate about this music, which is often the victim of folkloric stereotypes.