Tinariwen 'Amassakoul'

Tinariwen
Amassakoul
From Kidel in eastern Mali this group was the first of its kind to exist in the southern Sahara (~1982). They are the creators of a new & contemporary style of Touareg music. It is tied in with the exile & nomadic situation of the Touareg people, the descendants of Berbers in the Sahara.

Sung poetry addresses critical political issues of their plight in general & in particular their oppression in Mali. Traditional instruments, such as the lute, were deliberately discarded generally in favour of the electric guitar (in particular); its sound being able to travel farther & its often wailing sound eloquently able to describe their heart felt suffering. Western & Middle Eastern influences play a part in this music known as Tishoumaren. As time passed the direct political content shifted & now it apparently deals more with reconciliation, education etc. The music clearly has its own voice & speaks of life (I can read the translated lyrics).

The band is comprised loosely around 10 musicians all of whom are regarded as the best & most famous contemporary Touareg has to offer. Although having released many cassettes in Africa this is only their 2nd CD release (2004) & along with the first (The Radio Tisdas Sessions 2001) are the only albums to transcend Africa. Le festival au Desert in 2001 was the performance in which the Western World finally paid attention & since then they have been considered a highlight at such festivals as WOMAD (Reading 2004) & Roskilde (Denmark 2005).

Although some distance from the Mississippi, I thought this linked in rather well with William Elliott Whitmore. File under: African blues!

You can buy their albums here.

http://tinyurl.com/zrv45