Tinariwen

Tinariwen is a Tuareg rock band from the Sahel region, centered in northern Mali. Formed in the late 1970s by Tuareg musicians in exile in Libya, the group developed a guitar-based sound that blends traditional Tuareg melodies with blues and rock, a style frequently described as desert blues. The name Tinariwen comes from the Tuareg language.

The band rose to international prominence with The Radio Tisdas Sessions (2001), followed by Amassakoul (2004) and Aman Iman (2007). They also collaborated with Ali Farka Touré on In the Heart of the Moon, released in the late 2000s, which broadened their audience and influenced the global reception of Tuareg music.

Tinariwen's music is characterized by hypnotic guitar lines, repetitive riffs, and call-and-response vocals, performed in Tamashek and related dialects. Lyrically, songs address exile, political conflict in the Sahel, love, and longing for home, reflecting Tuareg identity and nomadic life.

The band has released several acclaimed records in the 2010s, including Tassili (2011), Emmaar (2014), and Elwan (2017). They have toured worldwide and influenced a generation of artists in the world music and rock scenes. Tinariwen received the Grammy Award for Best World Music Album for Tassili, underscoring their global reach and impact.