The Desert Blues: Tuareg music
With the release of Mdou Moctar's new album, we take a look at four more bands bringing modern spins to Tuareg music
Tuareg musician Mdou Moctar is back with the politically-charged and celebratory Afrique Victime, his first album for the legendary Matador label. We spoke to Mdou Moctar ahead of the album's release – read our interview here – and to broaden our knowledge of the Tuareg sound, we've put together this shortlist of your favourite new Tuareg bands.
Tinariwen
The undisputed godfathers of modern Tuareg music, Tinariwen’s history maps the contours of the major changes in Saharan politics over the last four decades. Frontman Ibrahim Ag Alhabib grew up in exile in Algeria and was part of the 1990-95 Tuareg Rebellion that allowed his people to return home to Mali.
Fusing Jimi Hendrix and Mark Knopfler influences alongside traditional ‘desert blues’ music, they gained a global breakthrough with their 2007 album Aman Iman: Water is Life.
Bombino
Omara ‘Bombino’ Moctar may be no relation to Mdou but he also grew up in Saharan Niger, although political strife forced him to move from country to country. His string of solo albums in the 2010s have seen him work with The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach and Dirty Projectors’ David Longstreth, as well as becoming the first Nigerien to be nominated for a Grammy for his 2018 album Deran.
Imarhan
Formed in Southern Algeria, Imarhan bring a younger and more collaborative spirit to Tuareg music, incorporating bright, colourful funk and pop elements on their two irresistible albums Imarhan (2016) and Temet (2018).
Les Filles de Illighadad
Frontwoman Fatou Seidi Ghali is said to be the first ever Tuareg woman to play guitar professionally, bucking the trend of women instead taking up the tende, a goatskin drum. Pointing the way to an exciting new dimension of possibilities in Tuareg music, Les Filles’ two albums to date are blistering and urgent – rebel music in the truest sense.
lesfillesdeillighadad.bandcamp.com