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The Sahara desert in Northern Mali is an unforgiving
place. Sand dunes dotted with bright green acacia trees as far
as the eye can see. Blistering 40deg heat by day and 0 by night
when the stars seem so near you can touch them. The recent bloody
uprisings of the Tamashek speaking peoples, the Tuaregs still
fresh in everyone’s minds. Imagine a concert that unites
Tuaregs, Malians, Mauritanians, musicians from Niger and from
the rest of the world. Imagine that everyone invited to perform,
African stars such as Ali Farka Toure and Oumou Sangare, a bevy
of the best bands in the region and some international stars such
as ex-Led Zep Robert Plant all turned up and all started on time.
They came to the oasis of Essakane, 1000 kilometres north of the
Malian capital Bamako for 3 days in January 2003…. by camel,
by plane, by 4WD, by truck bearing speakers, guitars and drums
and mingled in an aura of peace and friendship to create some
of the most stirring tradition-based African music ever recorded.
Although seemingly a novel concept, the festival was merely an
extension of ancient tradition on a grander scale…where
desert peoples would meet to marry, to tell stories, to recite
poetry and to create music. It was officially opened by Malian
Minister of Culture Cheikh Oumar Sissoko who is also a well-known
film producer. The 20 performances recorded here run the gamut
of traditionally based forms, often augmented with electric guitar,
to more contemporary sounds. On the level playing field of the
desert ancient chants, melodies and rhythms, Arabic sounds, swishing
calabashes and drums, the spiky ngoni and the elegant kora mingle
with younger descendants….rock, jazz, folk and rap to create
sounds drenched with a blues-like intensity.
Takamba Super Onze (11 musicians…the rhythm of the camel’s
gait and finger-busting ngoni), stunning guitar from Ali Farka
Toure protégé Afel Bocoum, Ali himself, the female
choir Tartit from Mauritania, Robert Plant with Justin Adams and
band who turn in a surprisingly good blues-rock performance, Sedoum
Ehl Aida the musician responsible for introducing the electric
guitar to Mauritanian music, a too brief performance from the
great Oumou Sangare, the new kings of electric Tamashek desert
blues Tinariwen (see the review of their CD Anassakoul) Adama
Yalomba, Tidawt, the fusion of jazz piano and traditional kora-music
from Ludovico Einaudi & Ballake Sissoko, Kel Tin Lokiene,
rapper Kwal rapping with traditional Tuareg singer Foy Foy, Tinde,
Aicha Bint Chighaly, French group Lo’jo and Malian folk
singer Django (Lo’jo’s manager Philippe Brix staged
the first Festival in the Desert in 2001), the warrior songs of
Igbayen and Baba Salah the liquid toned guitarist who often backs
Oumou Sangare. Also an unexpected hit of the festival was Navajo
Indian group Blackfire whose raucous Dine rock must have been
seen as a reciprocal world music offering to the Africans. More
than any other African release of the last few years Festival
In The Desert draws a powerful spiritual link between the ancient
and modern which is fresh and exciting. Also highly recommended
is the outstanding documentary DVD of the same name directed by
Lionel Brouet. It contains all the music on the CD.
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