February 24, 2022

From the campfire to the arena

Imarhan, a band from Tamanrasset, the Sahara Desert oasis city in southern Algeria, are masters of the warm, organic, luminous subtleties of the style of music called desert blues, tishoumaren, assouf or, even more simply among the Tamashek people, la guitare.  Their beautiful new album Aboogi is one of the best I've heard in the genre.
 
But the dynamic span of Toureg desert blues is as broad as that of any music today.  It ranges from the fireside intimacy of Imarhan all the way to the coliseum-scaled guitar rave-ups of six-string warriors like Mdou Moctar and Bombino.  This week Global A Go-Go presents a deep dive into desert blues, an hour that takes you from the campfire to the arena.

It's an all-African show this week (Sunday February 27, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site), with new music from Malian songbirds Oumou Sangare and Rokia Koné, the sounds of the Mande balafon and a quick tour of Lusophone Africa on the bill as well.



Artist | Country | Song | Recording | Label | Year
 
Oliver Lake | USA | Separation | Matador Of 1st & 1st | Passin' Thru | 1997
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros | England UK | Global A Go-Go | Global A Go-Go | Hellcat | 2001
 
Rokia Koné & Jacknife Lee | Mali-Ireland-USA | Anw Tile (It's Our Time) | Bamanan | Real World | 2022
Oumou Sangaré | Mali | Sarama | Timbuktu | World Circuit | 2022
Rokia Traoré | Mali | Tuit Tuit | Beautiful Africa | Nonesuch | 2013
 
Kasse Mady Diabate | Mali | Eh Ya Ye | Kassi Kasse: Mande Music From Mali | Narada World | 2002
Burkina Azza | Burkina Faso | Djanfa Magne | Wari Bô | Social Joy | 2021
Baba Commandant & The Mandingo Band | Burkina Faso | Ntjiguimorola | Juguya | Sublime Frequencies | 2015
 
África Negra | São Tomé & Príncipe | Quà Na Bua Nega Fa | Antologia Vol. 1 | Bongo Joe | 1983
Super Mama Djombo | Guinée-Bissau | Sûr Di Nô Pubis | Na Cambança | Cobiana | 1978
Conjunto Dicanzas Do Prendo | Angola | Chá Com Chá | Merengue Catembe / Chá Com Chá - Single | N'Gola | 1973
Marcos | Cabo Verde-Portugal | Passagem Areeiro | Saudade | Comets Coming | 1984
 
Ahmed Ag Kaedy | Mali | War Tafar | Akaline Kidal | Sahel Sounds | 2019
Imarhan | Algeria | Asof | Aboogi | City Slang | 2022
Les Filles De Illighadad | Niger | Inssegh Inssegh | Eghass Malan | Sahel Sounds | 2017
Tinariwen | Mali | Arawan | Amassakoul | World Village | 2003
 
Imarhan | Algeria | Temet | Aboogi | City Slang | 2022
Afous D'Afous | Algeria | Nak Amahah | Tenere | Sahel Sounds | 2017
Terakaft | Mali | Alghalem | Aratan N Azawad | World Village | 2011
Tamikrest | Mali-Algeria | Ayitma Madjam | Toumastin | Glitterhouse | 2011
 
Etran De L’Aïr | Niger | Imouwizla | Agadez | Sahel Sounds | 2022
Mdou Moctar | Niger | Kamane Tarhanin | Ilana: The Creator | Sahel Sounds | 2019
Bombino | Niger | Iyat Ninhay / Jaguar | Azel | Partisan | 2016

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