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.
Ya Messinagh
Tinariwen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh Lord!
Ya messinagh hikfan lassbarr
Tad adunya tarha lefkar
Imidiwan
A tat djanegh kud hi tennam
Ahi tangham megh hi toyyem
Ere s tat adjad attas tekfar
Tinariwen's song "Ya Messinagh" is a heartfelt plea to the divine, sung in Tamashek, the language of the Tuareg people. The lyrics evoke a sense of longing and despair, as the singer seeks solace from the pain and suffering of the world. The first two lines, "Oh Seigneur! / Oh Lord!" immediately establish the tone of the song, setting the stage for a prayerful appeal to a higher power.
The rest of the lyrics are a bit more difficult to parse, but they are filled with powerful imagery and metaphors. One interpretation suggests that the song is about a person who has lost their way in life and is struggling to find their path. The line, "Ya messinagh hikfan lassbarr / Tad adunya tarha lefkar" can be translated as "Oh Lord, I am lost in the darkness / The world has become too oppressive." The singer is overwhelmed by the struggles of life and seeks guidance from the divine.
Other lines in the song reinforce this theme, such as "Imidiwan / A tat djanegh kud hi tennam," which means "My friends, I am lost and alone." The sense of isolation and despair is palpable throughout the song, making it a powerful meditation on the human condition and the struggle for meaning in a chaotic world.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Seigneur!
Oh Lord!
Ya messinagh hikfan lassbarr
Oh Lord, grant us safety and peace
Tad adunya tarha lefkar
In this world full of trouble and hardship
Imidiwan
O my brothers
A tat djanegh kud hi tennam
Listen to my words and understand their meaning
Ahi tangham megh hi toyyem
We will resist and fight against oppression
Tidet tididagh har kuk tekfar
Our struggle and resistance will not cease until justice is served
Ere s tat adjad attas tekfar
As long as the sun rises in the east, our fight for justice will continue
Writer(s): Ibrahim Ag Alhabib Copyright: Wedge (Inear Publishing)
Contributed by Eliana O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dreamEternal
Lyrics;
Oh Lord, give me patience!
This life demands experience
Friends, fellow travellers,
You can kill me or you can let me live
But I will tell you something true
And this truth is precious to me
It has nestled in my lungs
Like a poison, my friends
Truth itself is always hard, unconquerable
He who hears it can turn
Into a rebel
@VitomirMilosevic
Looking for truth makes One a rebel! I know I am for sure! Mashala!
@issouyasseouarzazate8368
❤️🙏🎸🐫
@zengaiamoud973
Chansons touchante breboun