Tuareg desert blues act Tamikrest was formed in 2006. the band is known as “spiritual sons” of pioneering Tuareg band Tinariwen, characterized by transfixing and intense songs.
Tamikrest’s debut album was ‘Adagh’ (Glitterhouse Records). The name Tamikrest is Tamashek (Tuareg language) for junction/ connection/ knot/ coalition. The seven founding members of Tamikrest originated from Mali, Niger and Algeria. They came together to express their Tuareg identity through Ishumar rock, the Tuareg rebel music.
About their backgrounds they said: “A desert hosts us, a language unites us, a culture binds us”.
The band’s leader, songwriter, singer and guitarist Ousmane Ag Mossa was five when he first heard a Tinariwen song; it immediately struck a chord with him. Ousmane explained: “When Tuareg children arrive in the public Malian schools, they are soon confronted with an administration that refuses to see the realities our people suffer. The youngsters are subject to racism and marginalization every day at school. Our hope is to have the world listen to our revolutionary songs, which reflect the harsh life conditions that our people endure.”
Tamikrest’s songs also praise the desert, a place that is essential for the Tuareg people. Indeed, it was in the silky dunes of Essakane at the 2008 Festival of the Desert where they met Dirtmusic, a group of rock veterans from the USA and Australia: Chris Eckman, Hugo Race, and Chris Brokaw.
With their tents side by side, not only did they share Tuareg tea, but they also found themselves
jamming together and discovered that their ideas and music fit perfectly. The two bands stayed in touch, and Dirtmusic later returned to Mali to record their own album “BKO” that featured Tamikrest, Fadimata from Tartit as well as Lobi Traoré.
Due to regional conflicts, Tamikrest have not lived in Kidal, Mali, the desert crossroads town where the band began in 2007. They currently reside in Tamanrasset (Algeria), Paris and at times along the desolate Algerian/Malian borderlands.
In 2017, Tamikrest released Kidal. “Kidal talks about dignity,” Ag Mossa said. “We consider the desert as an area of freedom to live in. But many people consider it as just a market to sell to multinational companies, and for me, that is a major threat to the survival of our nomadic people.”
The band that recorded “Kidal” included Ousmane Ag Mossa on vocals, lead guitar, acoustic guitar; Aghaly Ag Mohamedine on jembe, backing vocals; Cheick Ag Tiglia on bass, acoustic guitar, backing vocals; Paul Salvagnac on lead and rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, slide guitar; and Nicolas Grupp on drums and percussion.
“Tamotaït” was released in 2020. “The definition of the album is there in its title,” explained Ousmane Ag Mossa. “Tamotaït means hope for a positive change.”
“We are a band and when we play together everyone brings their way of playing. For the compositions, some pieces start from a riff, another part from a melody or a rhythm and each musician adds his input afterwards. The idea was to keep a common thread that comes from Tamashek music and to take it through different worlds, whether they come from our influences or from our encounters during our travels.”
(headline image: Tamikrest – Photo by Ishida Masataka)
Discography:
Adagh (Glitterhouse Records, 2010)
The Tent Sessions, with Dirtmusic (2010)
Toumastin (Glitterhouse Records, 2011)
Live 2011 (2011)
Chatma (Glitterbeat, 2013)
Taksera (Glitterbeat, 2015)
Kidal (Glitterbeat, 2017)
Tamotaït (Glitterbeat, 2020)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.