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.
Koud Edhaz Emin
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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Maii Waleed
Translation of the lyrics:
Even if I seem to be smiling
My heart is chapped and cracked
It’s been years since I’ve lived in my worries
You never learn a thing
You never impart a thing
You incubate hatred all the while
My brothers, why all the misunderstanding
In this arid desert strewn with dead trees
My brothers, is there anything more delightful
Than being distracted and engrossed
In the middle of a tindé and iswat
Djawt Agrawli
Even if I seem to be smiling
My heart is chapped and cracked
It’s been years since I’ve lived in my worries
You never learn a thing
You never impart a thing
You incubate hatred all the while
My brothers, why all the misunderstanding
In this arid desert strewn with dead trees
My brothers, is there anything more delightful
Than being distracted and engrossed
In the middle of a tindé and iswat (tinde and iswat, names of places)
Maii Waleed
Translation of the lyrics:
Even if I seem to be smiling
My heart is chapped and cracked
It’s been years since I’ve lived in my worries
You never learn a thing
You never impart a thing
You incubate hatred all the while
My brothers, why all the misunderstanding
In this arid desert strewn with dead trees
My brothers, is there anything more delightful
Than being distracted and engrossed
In the middle of a tindé and iswat
el houdi ahmed
Svp si il y a un site ou je peux trouvé les lyrics en français de tenariween
MagasAlpin
what is the original one?
Naught
amahagh ag tinariwen
Could you please provide the tamasheq lyrics?!.. i want to sing along with them 🖤😭
James Simone
I just discovered these guys - so disappointed I missed their concert in Washington DC last month. Hopefully, they'll be back soon!
moisture two_scoops
they are absolutely amazing live. seen them twice now.
Ogartane Azawad
Le héro du touareg abaraybon Ibrahim ag alhabib
walid kerrouche
My phone's ring tone for the last 4 years. A masterpiece indeed.
Osama Madlom
Amazing music!!!!
Mahamadou Jean Lehouelleur
Tinariwen, la paix avec soi même et tout.