Tinariwen

Tinariwen is a Tuareg band founded in 1979 in the Adrar des Ifoghas, in northern Mali.

Pioneers of the assouf style (“nostalgia” in Tamasheq), they convey through their music the struggles, exile, and hopes of the Tuareg people. Their sound blends blues, Saharan traditions, and Arab influences, creating a unique musical identity that has left its mark on the international scene.

They rose to prominence in the early 2000s with The Radio Tisdas Sessions, establishing themselves as the world’s reference for Tuareg blues. Since then, Tinariwen has performed over 1,270 concerts, released nine albums, and built a devoted audience across the globe. Since 2010, the band has been accompanied by Patrick Votan and Wedge.

The collective has been nominated three times for the Grammy Awards, winning in 2011 with Tassili. Along their tours, they have collaborated with numerous musicians, including Kurt Vile, Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), Micah Nelson (Willie Nelson’s son), Jack White, Flea, Warren Ellis, and others. Today, Tinariwen is a cult band and a living symbol of Tuareg resistance and poetry.

This year, the group is preparing their tenth studio album, alongside tours in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia. Artistically, Tinariwen aims to return to the spirit of their beginnings, with a rawer sound, less polished electric guitars, a greater presence of female voices, and collective recording that reflects the strength of their community.