Tinariwen (in Tuareg: "ⵜⵏⵔⵓⵏ"; from Tamasheq (Berber), Tenere, the desert) … Read Full Bio ↴Tinariwen (in Tuareg: "ⵜⵏⵔⵓⵏ"; from Tamasheq (Berber), Tenere, the desert) is a Tuareg music group, originating from Tessalit in the Adrar des Ifoghas, a region shared between southern Algeria and northern Mali. The band's fifth album Tassili, released in 2011, won the Award for Best World Music Album at the 54th Grammy Awards.
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.
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.
Kel Tinawen
Tinariwen Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Tinariwen:
Aden Osamnat Les filles sont jalouses Girls are jealous Sobkh n allah so…
Aghregh Medin I call upon the wisdom of the people of knowledge Opinions…
Aldachan Manin Tired I'm tired Of searching for that which is not I se…
Aldhechen Manin Tired I'm tired Of searching for that which is not I searc…
Amassakoul 'N' Ténéré Nak Amassakul N tenere Wer hi Ggrraw taKunt Sshmara i adutan…
Arawan Agadez, Kidal, Tamanghassat, Ingall Ikallan 'n muhagh …
Arhegh ad annagh Arhegh ad annàgh imidewan widtidawegh, djigh esdiwen Arhegh …
Arhegh Danagh Arhegh ad ànnàgh imidiwàn Wi dàr tidawàgh ad dàr djegh isdiw…
Assàwt Assàwt n- chàt-Tamashàq Itlab-nen àlhorriya D-inizdjam n-tim…
Assuf D Alwa Asuf d alwa megh tisseren S el waqqen hegh anukmamnen S el…
Asuf D Alwa Nostalgie et solitude Longing and loneliness Asuf d alwa…
Chaghaybou Khaya la n manin da Khaya la tassanin da tahi nay…
Chatma Send out the rallying cry, my sisters All over the village U…
Chet Boghassa War t'islenet chet Boghassa Is n'idja daraba iyet n'igla War…
Cler Achel Jklerh achel udwer ehadh Jklerh achel udwer ehadh Lerh azama…
Djegh Ishilan Djegh ichilan dagh mane arghe3 Zinizdjoumough diha dinsegh …
Fog Edaghàn Oulhin zhaydar ahak anagh Anagh tidit hound har anagh Fog ed…
Hayati حياتي غرامي حنوا عليا شوية شوية حنوا عليا شوية شوية حياتي غر…
Iket adjen J′me bats plus, j'suis calibré j′ai un Glock J'me vé-sau, j'…
Imazeghen N Adagh It's like a jungle sometimes, it makes me wonder How I…
Imdiwanin ahi Tifhamam Friends, companions, understand me Don′t think that I'm abou…
Imidiwan Ahi Sigdim Imidiwan ma tennam dagh awa dagh enha semmen Tenere den tas-…
Imidiwan Ma Tenam What have you got to say my friends? Mes amis que…
Imidiwan Ma Tennam What have you got to say my friends? Mes amis que…
Imidiwan Mahitinam Quiere que lo mueva así, sí, sí, sí Ah-ah, es ahí,…
Imidiwan Win Sahara Amis du Sahara My friends of Sahara Imidiwan n Sahara I…
Iswegh Attay J'ai bu un thé I drank some tea Taqqalahi tisnant alsh…
Kel Tamashek Kal tamashak isswadhat Kal tamashak ibdidat Inhalghalim tarm…
Lulla This is not a love song This is not a love…
Matadjem Yinmixan MATADJEM YINMIXAN (Why all this hate between you) MATADJE…
Nànnuflày Kàla t-illegh Ibda nànnuflày Nilmàd s-àddunya Harkuk tàmmutt…
Oualahila Ar Tesninam Oulahila ar tesninam Tekmi wendeghman terhinam Idjadikou ou …
Sastanàqqàm Ténéré sastanàqqàm Indek tifut n- imidiwàn Tiled tasnit, til…
Soixante Trois 63 has gone, but will return Those days have left their…
Tahalamot Last night, when I dreamt about Tahalmoyt Of her elegant app…
Tameyawt Tameyawt Tameyawt Tamadroyt tamayawt edey nes wan tallaq…
Tamiditin Tamiditin tan ufrawan mahas naghshad as hitaddlam Tamiditin …
Tamiditin Tan Ufrawan Mon amie la cachottière! My secretive girl friend! Tamid…
Tenalle Chegret Hey oh oh You can think that I'm just playin' games You…
Ténéré Tàqqàl Ténéré Tàqqàl egargar wan fassar Dag aknassan elwan azadan d…
Tenere Taqqim Tossam Le désert est jaloux Jealous Desert Tenere ti nin tener…
Tenhert On the floors of Tokyo Or down in London town to…
Tenhert (The Doe) The doe of Azuzawa is so radiant She was leaving Tin…
Tiliaden Osamnat Les filles sont jalouses Girls are jealous Sobkh n allah so…
Toumast Walking through it Walking in the winter The desert Then I s…
Toumast Tincha Walking through it Walking in the winter The desert Then …
Walla Illa Ulla illa Ulla illa Ulla illa mizimallat gatti lilla Adjoda…
Ya Messinagh Oh Seigneur! Oh Lord! Ya messinagh hikfan lassbarr Tad …
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@lakouismarouane9736
The best Tinariwen album hasn’t been recorded yet. Perhaps it never will be. Because the best Tinariwen music isn’t the music they perform in front of microphones. It’s the music they play at night around the fire, back in their own country, amongst themselves and at their own pace. Having eaten, and drunk their tea, the men bring out their guitars, chat, remember old songs and let the music come. In those moments, the music can become like the fire, free, magical and impossible to stuff into a box. It rises up like a shower of sparks or a state of grace, without premeditation; the momentary manifestation of a friendship, a community, an environment, a history; the revelatory connection with something that belongs only to them, and goes beyond them. Their discography stretching out over the last 17 years, all the tours and the international recognition have changed nothing: Tinariwen are still a desert band, only certain aspects of which the western music industry can ever hope to capture and present. Tinariwen existed long before any of their albums were recorded, and they still exist quite distinct from their discographic dimension. So, the best Tinariwen album doesn’t exist. But it’s still worth trying to go and find it.
The story of Amadjar, the ninth Tinariwen album, begins at the end of October 2018, at the Taragalte Festival of nomadic cultures in the Moroccan Sahara. After a concert and a sandstorm, Tinariwen hit the road and head for Mauritania, via southern Morocco, Western Sahara and the Atlantic coast. The destination is important (the band have to set up and record their album there, and hook up with the singer Noura Mint Seymali), but no more so than the journey itself. Tinariwen are joined by their French production team, who arrive in old camper van that’s been converted into a makeshift studio. The journey to Nouakchott, capital of Mauritania, takes a dozen days or so. Every evening, the caravan stops to set up camp and the members of Tinariwen get to work under the stars – a whole lot better than being in a studio after all – to prepare for the recording, talking things through, letting their guitar motifs, thoughts and long buried songs come. Then, during a final camp in the desert around Nouakchott that lasts about fifteen days, to an audience of scorpions, the band record their songs under large tent. In a few live takes, without headphones or effects. The Mauritanian griotte Noura Mint Seymali and her guitarist husband, Jeiche Ould Chigaly, come to throw their musical tradition on the embers lit by Tinariwen – the curling vocals of Noura Mint Seymali on the song ‘Amalouna’ will become a highlight.
This nomadic album, recorded in a natural setting, is as close as you can get to Tinariwen. And also, therefore, to the idea that things can evolve: bassist Eyadou plays a lot of acoustic guitar; percussionist Said tries his hand at new instruments; Abdallah exhumes songs that he’s never played on stage with Tinariwen. And that violin that appears on several songs and reminds you of the traditional imzad? It’s actually played by Warren Ellis. The violinist in Nick Cave’s band is one of several western guests on the album. We also hear the mandolin and charango of Micah Nelson (son of the country music giant Willie Nelson, and Neil Young’s guitarist), and the guitars of Stephen O’Malley (Sunn O)))), Cass McCombs and Rodolphe Burger. The album is mixed by Jack White’s buddy Joshua Vance Smith.
In the end, Amadjar tells the story of several journeys: the one undertaken to prepare the album, and the one that Tinariwen take between two worlds, theirs and ours, with that constant need to pass from one to the other before coming back to the roots. “I’m in a complete solitude, where thoughts frighten me, and lost in their midst I arose and noticed that I was thirsty and wanted water,” sings Ibrahim on ‘Ténéré Maloulat’, the first song on the album. A return to the source of Tamashek poetry. In the middle of other more political songs, through always desolate, these words express deep distress and survival, but also movement. Amadjar means ‘the unknown visitor’ in Tamashek, the one who seeks hospitality and who’s condemned to an inner exile, within a territory or within himself; just like the members of Tinariwen, who feel at home on the journey, around the fire with a few immutable songs. The best Tinariwen album will never be. But Amadjar is more essential than all the others.
@KeravnosPrime
Nice copy paste
@TotoWolffsBigHog
Shut the fuck up
@mmmabo3094
I love everything you wrote ❤️ it gives ppl some understanding of the cause of Tinariwen they’re not just a dancing nomads they are the voice of a nation about to extinct and yet i hope from the production to translate the songs
@anawesomeperspective3212
Mahalo
@amaldasarchana
Beautiful 😍
@omuanko
Love from japan. Please come to Japan after the corona incident.
@samirdadicanada8208
Welcome to Algeria
@bouzidiadams2019
Azul , warm greetings from the desert of Algeria
@samirrifland9772
This video clip was in moroccain desert