Six Things You Should Know About Tinariwen

1. “Tinariwen” translates from the Tamasheq Tuareg language as “deserts”
2. They were formed by guitarist Ibrahim Ag Alhabib, who was originally influenced by North African chaabi and rai music as well as American rock and blues
3. Their 2011 album, Tassili, won the GRAMMY for Best World Music Album
4. When asked to describe Tinariwen’s sound, bassist Eyadou Ag Leche used the word ”assouf,” a Tamasheq word that loosely translates to “a longing and nostalgia for the desert life”
5. The band performed at the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa
6. Due to the political unrest in Mali, the band recorded their new album, Emmaar, in a different desert than their usual home in the Sahara – California’s Mojave Desert near Joshua Tree

More information about Tinariwen here.