Formed in 1982, in strikingly unusual circumstances for a musical ensemble, Tinariwen blend ancient musical traditions with radical contemporary politics. Despite severe natural and man-made hardships, young Kel Tamashek exiles continued performing the traditional music of their Tuareg forebears in the southern Sahara while simultaneously fighting against the government of Mali.
Forced to seek an alternative to starvation and repression in drought-stricken Mali, many of these young nomads hoped to attain a better life by striking up what proved to be an uneasy alliance with Libya. The hoped-for aid in their struggle with the Mali government failed to materialize, but in the meantime some of the rebels had evolved a form of music that kept alive the music of their forefathers while simultaneously communicating radical political messages. This music is known as tishoumaren, music of the ishumar (the unemployed). Usually performed by groups of 30 and more instrumentalists and singers, tishoumaren acknowledges contemporary western music, especially rock, as well as other music forms prevalent in the Middle East, while never losing touch with the original ancient form. In some instances, players not only adapt traditional forms but also substitute modern instruments for the traditional lutes, flutes and one-string violins. The electric guitar in particular has become popular, even though circumstances demand the availability of portable generators.
The name chosen by this band, Tinariwen, means empty places, thus maintaining a further link to the vast desert regions of the southern Sahara. The musicians include Said Ag Ayad, Alhassane Ag Touhami, Eyadou Ag Leche, Ibrahim Ag Alhabib, Abdallah Ag Lamida, Abdallah Ag Alhousseyni and Bassa Walet Abdoumou.
The music itself is spare and haunting, an aural reflection of those same open spaces. The lyrics of their songs, perhaps more accurately termed sung poetry, carry outspoken political thought that draws attention not only to repression in Mali, but also to the enforced exile of many and the continuing struggle for self-determination of the Tuareg nomads. Song structures are many and varied and include elemental call-and-response patterns as well as (to western ears) discordant notes that call to mind the blue notes favoured by western blues and jazz players overlaid upon a solid four-beat rhythmic foundation that is itself uncommon to the region although compatible with much western popular music.
Tinariwen's first recordings were to cassette, sales and even possession of which carried harsh penalties in Mali and Algeria. In the early 00s, availability of albums encouraged more widespread awareness of the music and its underlying political messages.
Amassakoul 'n' Tenere
Tinariwen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wer hi Ggrraw taKunt
Sshmara i adutan-net
Sshmara i Fad
D Tafuk
Zzayagh ad gglegh
Ar-hi- thedu tafuk
'Sagrawat eghaf takunt
Nak, Idaghan a da dagh uhuegh
Ssanagh da ta z' gruwegh
Ssanagh dih-a Llan aman n adghagh
S wineda imazwan
Wind' ad g'egh amidi-in
Hi taggan tinfusen-net
Taggagh-as tin-in
The song "Amassakoul 'N' Ténéré" by Tinariwen is a powerful and emotive piece of music. The Tuareg lyrics, which are sung by the band, translate to English as "Traveler of the Desert". The song is a reflection of the harsh realities of life in the Sahara, where the environment is unforgiving and life is a constant struggle. The lyrics describe the beauty of the desert and its people, as well as the hardships they face, including droughts and conflict.
The opening lines of the song, "Nak Amassakul N tenere, Wer hi Ggrraw taKunt" can be translated to mean "I am a traveler of the desert, with my camel as my companion". The song goes on to describe the blue sky above and the vastness of the desert. The next stanza describes the winds that blow across the desert and the sand that fills the air. The chorus then repeats the opening lines, emphasizing the importance of travel and the companionship of camels in the desert.
The final stanza of the song touches on the hardships of life in the desert. The lyrics describe the struggles of the Tuareg people as they try to survive in a harsh and unforgiving environment. Despite these challenges, the song remains hopeful, calling on the Tuareg people to stay strong and persevere in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Nak Amassakul N tenere
We, the people of Amassakul, belong to the desert region of Tenere
Wer hi Ggrraw taKunt
Our land is full of rocks and hills, with a thousand valleys
Sshmara i adutan-net
Our faces are covered from the desert dust
Sshmara i Fad
Our mouths are dry due to lack of water
D Tafuk
In the midst of all this, we still endure
Zzayagh ad gglegh
Oh mountains, you who stand tall
Ar-hi- thedu tafuk
We ask for your strength to endure
Dagh Tenere ta mallat
In the Tenere desert, there is no water
'Sagrawat eghaf takunt
Only the strong can endure the harshness of the desert
Nak, Idaghan a da dagh uhuegh
We, the Tuareg people, are a proud and strong people
Ssanagh da ta z' gruwegh
We will always stand tall and maintain our dignity
Ssanagh dih-a Llan aman n adghagh
We carry the traditions of our ancestors with us
S wineda imazwan
We are the sons of the desert
Wind' ad g'egh amidi-in
We will never be defeated, we will always endure
Hi taggan tinfusen-net
Even when we are lost, we have the stars to guide us
Taggagh-as tin-in
We will always find our way home
Contributed by Natalie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ValtonMilaimiTonino
Translation (copy-pasted)
I am a traveler in the lone desert
It's nothing special
I can stand the wind
I can stand the thirst
And the sun
I know how to go and walk
Until the setting of the sun
In the desert, flat and empty, where nothing is given
My head is alert, awake
I have climbed up and climbed down
The mountains where I was born
I know in which caves the water is hidden
These worries are my friends
I'm always on familiar terms with them and that
Gives birth to the stories of my life
You who are organised, assembled, walking together
Hand in hand, you're living
A path which is empty of meaning
In truth, you're all alone
@valarmorghulis118
je suis originaire de Tamanrasset ces instruments sont a nous cette langue est a nous cette terre est a nous ,ce continent est a nous et notre couleur de peau le prouve bien ...
vous êtes tous berberisés , vous êtes tous venus d'ailleurs au fil du temps , certains avant d'autres c'est tout .
vous tous êtes soit sémites d'orients(arabes juifs phéniciens etc) soit européens tout court (Romains gaulois ibérique vandales ou plus récemment d'Anatolie)
ce qui explique votre blancheur et vos yeux de couleurs
nous on était la bien avant cela , on était la avant vos invasion vos déportations avant vos conquêtes avant les premiers pharaons avec qui on partage d'ailleurs le même aspect et couleur, avant vos civilisations ,
et même avant la dernière glaciation (si je ne dis pas de bêtises )
donc chers amis chaouis kabyles arabes turques etc vivez tous en paix ensemble ou barrez vous en Europe et en Asie .
@kacem33
Depuis Jimi Hendrix aucun artiste n’a atteint une telle perfection que Tinariwen
@yassinsslimani6677
من طنجة العليا الى اخواننا الطوارق في ليبيا والنيجر وبوركينا ومالي والجزائر وموريطان وجنوب المغرب الف تحية والف سلام الشعب المحافظ على دينه ولغته وثقافته
@bouriahbilel6390
من أجمل صحاري العالم كأنك في كوكب مريخ سبحان الله بكرة و أصيل
@asahra1075
تيناريوين فرقة موسيقية عالمية بكل ما تحمله من معنى فهي تعبر عن ثقافة أمة وشعب مهمش في أغلب دول شمال إفريقيا فكل التقدير والاحترام لهم
@lukbravo
Terriblement mystique, terriblement profond, un style originale qui nous réchauffe le cœur, nous fait voyager, et qui renforce notre fierté d appartenance a cette millénaire culture berbère.
@alitamine8787
Lovely beautiful Tifinagh original words, music, really North African mystical ballad,
Chaoui passing from here ! With salute
@ValtonMilaimiTonino
Translation (copy-pasted)
I am a traveler in the lone desert
It's nothing special
I can stand the wind
I can stand the thirst
And the sun
I know how to go and walk
Until the setting of the sun
In the desert, flat and empty, where nothing is given
My head is alert, awake
I have climbed up and climbed down
The mountains where I was born
I know in which caves the water is hidden
These worries are my friends
I'm always on familiar terms with them and that
Gives birth to the stories of my life
You who are organised, assembled, walking together
Hand in hand, you're living
A path which is empty of meaning
In truth, you're all alone
@hel_9155
Vous n avez pas les paroles en amazigh s il vous plait?
@skrnan4330
👍🎸😎
@ferdinandus1983
so powerful and amazing the meaning of this song!