With a sound that evokes the somber expanse of their ancestral home in the Saharan Desert, Grammy Award-winning world music group, Tinariwen performs Monday at Kuumbwa Jazz Center as part of a sweeping global tour that includes stops in Europe, South America and the United States.
Hailed as a ‘grassroots voice of rebellion’ by Allmusic, the group, made up of rotating Taureg musicians from the battle-worn region of Northwestern Mali, Tinariwen has been recording and performing for decades, sometimes amidst harrowing circumstances, and continues to inspire people globally with their message of peace and freedom.
While America is no stranger to the “rebellious” rock ‘n’ roll band archetype, when it comes to Tinariwen, fighting for a cause and being rebels take on a whole new meaning.
The group was founded by Ibrahim Ag Alhabib who as a young boy witnessed his father’s execution during the First Taureg Rebellion in Mali in 1962. A self-taught musician, he drew band members from within the Taureg exile communities of Libya and Algeria in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The group, referred to as “Kel Tinariwen” (Tamashek for “the desert boys”) played informally together for a while, before then-Libyan leader, Muammar al-Qaddafi mandated that all Tuareg exiles receive nine months of military training, in hopes that these young desert fighters would further his political agenda in Chad and Niger.
It was in these training camps that the young musicians solidified their relationship as a band.
Five years later, Ibrahim and most of the same group of musicians were put in a similar situation, when they were called to fight in Libya by leaders of a Tuareg rebel movement.
It was after this time that the group would finally sit down and record in a makeshift studio that they had built in the desert.
Their goal was to spread the message and plight of the Tuareg people.
More than 30 years later and amidst roster changes to protect musicians and their families from retaliation for participating in the group, Tinariwen continues to deliver their message to enthusiastic audiences worldwide.
Speaking through a translator, Eyadou Ag Leche, one of Tinariwen’s current guitar players and singers was nice to talk with Good Times about Tinariwen history and message ahead of Monday’s show.
A lot of your group’s material and history is tied to the Sahara Desert, how would you describe this area to someone who has never seen it in person?
EYADOU: Our desert is part of our culture and very special to us. Everything happening there is a memorable thing. We invite you to come and visit.
Emmaar (2014) is your latest studio album in almost 14 years, how would you say your sound has developed over time?
EYADOU: With Emmaar we wanted achieve the sound of our debut albums, the rough sound of the electric guitar through our low-wattage amp. for instance. Thanks to the good gear and material, we were able to get the sound of our homeland, even when we were far from it.
Due to unrest at home you were forced to record this album in the United States, how was that experience for the group?
EYADOU: We had good conditions for recording the album at Joshua Tree, thanks to our good friend’s hospitality. And we feel good in the desert, the feeling of the wind, the rocks, the silence.
There are obviously still large issues facing your people at home.
EYADOU: Tuareg people have been suffering for decades since the 1960s from aggressions and above all, no help in healthcare, no water, or education for our children. Today there are still thousands of Tuareg refugees who are looking to go home. We are looking for respect of our culture and of our people.
After this tour is finished where do you see the band heading in the future?
EYADOU: We will record a new album next fall, most probably in the south of Algeria, around Tamanrasset where some of us live today. As long as we are inspired we will keep on writing, composing and playing our music. We hope more and more people will keep on enjoying it.
Tinariwen has played in almost all of the largest and most well known festivals in the world. What has been your favorite so far?
EYADOU: We don’t necessary have a favorite one; any set-up suits us. As long as the audiences are happy to see our shows we are happy.
Info: Tinariwen, 7 p.m. Monday, August 17. Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz. Tickets: $32/$37.
