This is one of the first songs which Ibrahim wrote in the 1980s with the help of… Read Full Bio ↴This is one of the first songs which Ibrahim wrote in the 1980s with the help of Inteyeden, a friend and fellow founder-member of Tinariwen, who died of strange illness in 1994. The song is about the rebellion of 1963 in which a group of Touaregs from Adar des Iforas in northeastern Mali rose up spontaneously against the young independent state. The revolt was brutally suppressed by the Malian army and this suppression created a climate of antagonism which lead directly to the second rebellion of 1990.

Soixante Trois
Tinariwen Lyrics

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63 has gone, but will return
Those days have left their traces
They murdered the old folk and a child just born
They swooped down to the pastures and wiped out the cattle...
63 has gone, but will return

Overall Meaning

Tinariwen's song "Soixante Trois" is a powerful political statement remembering the events of 1963 in Mali. The lyrics tell the story of a violent conflict between the Malian government and the Tuareg people, whose ancestral lands were being encroached upon. The lyrics suggest that the events of 1963 were brutal and unforgivable, with young and old alike being killed, and cattle being stolen or murdered. The song's title is a reference to the year that the conflict took place in.

The lyrics "63 has gone, but will return" suggest that even though the conflict is over, the memories of it and the resulting pain and trauma will always remain with the Tuareg people. The song serves as a reminder that even though time moves on and the world changes, the past can never be forgotten. The final repetition of the line "63 has gone, but will return" drives home the message that the memories of the events of 1963 will always be present in the Tuareg community's collective consciousness.

Interesting Facts
Note: This section uses generative AI, which can be inaccurate.

Line by Line Meaning

63 has gone, but will return
The year of 1963, marked by violence and loss, has passed but its impact still lingers and may someday resurface.

Those days have left their traces
The events of 1963 have left a lasting imprint on the people and landscape of the region.

They murdered the old folk and a child just born
In 1963, innocent and vulnerable members of society such as elderly people and infants were brutally killed.

They swooped down to the pastures and wiped out the cattle...
The violence of 1963 targeted not only human life, but also the livelihoods and sustenance of the region's communities.

Writer(s): IBRAHIM AG ALHABIB

Contributed by Peyton R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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