Mdou Moctar is a popular wedding performer and sings about Islam, education, love and peace in Tamasheq. He plays a left-handed Fender in a takamba and assouf style. He is originally from Abalak and has also lived in Tchintabaraden and Libya.
Chismiten
Mdou Moctar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Iket N'arkalghal Iket chismiten
Nak ikyadakana na Olke Alghalnam
Nak ikyadakana na Olke Alghalnam
Iket N'arkalghal Iket chismiten
Iket N'arkalghal Iket chismiten
Nak ikyadakana Olke Alghalnam
Nak ikyadakana Olke Alghalnam
Mazay D'arkalghal harkit Chismiten
Mazay D'arkalghal harkit Chismiten
Ikmane Alghalnam ma
Ikmane Tayité
Ikmane Alghalnam ma
Ikmane Tayité
Iket N'arkalghal Iket chismiten
Iket N'arkalghal Iket chismiten
Nak ikyadakana Olke Alghalnam
Nak ikyadakana Olke Alghalnam
... ... ... ...
The song "Chismiten" by Mdou Moctar is sung in Tamasheq, a language spoken by the Tuareg people. The lyrics are repetitive, which is typical of Tuareg music, as it induces a trance-like state in the listener. The song seems to be about the struggle of the Tuareg people for independence and the right to live on their own land. The first two lines, "Iket N'arkalghal Iket chismiten" (We are free, we are the rebels) repeat throughout the song, repeating the message that the Tuaregs are fighting for their freedom. The next two lines, "Nak ikyadakana na Olke Alghalnam" (We will take back our land, Alghalnam) further emphasize this struggle for land and freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
Iket N'arkalghal Iket chismiten
The stars in the night sky and the eyes of the listener are both shimmering
Nak ikyadakana na Olke Alghalnam
The sound of the song reaches the stars
Mazay D'arkalghal harkit Chismiten
The listener's heart is moved by the sounds of the guitar
Ikmane Alghalnam ma
The stars are calling
Ikmane Tayité
Come closer
Writer(s): Mdou Moctar, Ahmoudou Madassane, Michael Coltun
Contributed by Maya M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Roronoa79
And they say rock is dead.
Rock is alive and well.
Blessings and love from America!!
@larswoodruffe1108
It's like hearing a really good track from the early 70's that you've never heard before.
@elniko3447
wow … this is exactly what i’ve beenn trying to think of
@SageandDust
Some of the greatest new rock music in the world is coming out of the Sahara. Peace and blessings be upon these artists.
@sentinela8775
You bet 🤝
@ReplyMNO
lol. I like what you did there.
@manassurya2019
Is it happening? Are we finally creating our own golden age of music? Finally.
@Henk.vdBerg
Africa's rock'n'roll music has been banging for years though. :)
Too bad the rock'n'roll train to the worldwide public has kinda passed since pop music (aka vomitmusic) of britney spears and the backstreet boys took over the world.
I hope these guys will make it big one day. If they ever tour Europe I'm gonna be so sure to get tickets and bring all my friends, everybody needs to hear this!
@terryesteban8954
Dont know if you guys gives a damn but if you're stoned like me atm you can watch pretty much all of the latest movies on Instaflixxer. Been streaming with my girlfriend for the last few months =)
@dopaminecloud
@@Henk.vdBerg pop music of that style faded out ages ago man, the current popular influences are largely Mediterranean