Nomad´s Blues from Niger - Etran Finatawa
Among the grasslands of the Sahel and the shifting dunes of the Sahara desert, two legendary nomadic peoples, the Wodaabe and Tuareg, are joined together in the raunchy guitars and haunting voices of Etran Finatawa. As the winds of change cast uncertainty over their nomadic lifestyle, both cultures are at a crossroads. Etran Finatawa reflect on their roots, with a nostalgia and warmth that mirrors the majesty of their desert home. Etran Finatawa was formed as a band at the time of the 2004 Festival in the Desert near Timbuctou. The literal meaning of their name is 'the stars of tradition'. They are the first group to use the songs and music of the Wodaabe in a modern context. They began as a group of ten musicians who wanted to unite these two nomadic cultures as a symbol of peace and reconciliaton. The touring and recording band consists of five musicians. The interchange of modern and traditional songs, handclapping and rich percussion often lead the songs and are an invitation to dance while the solo guitar of Alhousseini Anivolla gives a special Blues groove to their music. Their melodies, rhythms and vocals create a sound picture of the grasslands of the Sahel and arid desert. The rich and heady blend of the particular vocal sound of the Wodaabe singers, Bammo Agonla and Bagui Bouga, the strong singing voice of the Touareg Alhousseini Anivolla and the polyphonic chorus of the whole band is the highly innovative, unique and rich sound and performance of Etran Finatawa. Etran Finatawa has travelled around the world and was touring on all five continents since 2005. Touring Europe in August 2012! 11.
Etran Finatawa on tour summer 2012
Together with Accessallareas UK:
An artist´s fusion this summer:
Members of Etran Finatawa together with the group Mamane Barka in the taking action project to safe cultural heritage in Niger: THE ENDLESS JOURNEY
The Endless Journey
‘The Endless Journey’ brings together four musicians from two of
Niger’s leading internationally known music groups, Mamane Barka and
Etran Finatawa. For the last six years both groups have been
preoccupied with bringing the music and culture of their respective (and
adopted) nomadic tribes to the world stage. But now there is a more
urgent need to move from being cultural ambassadors abroad to being
cultural activists at home. Each time they return to Niger it is more
evident that traditions, and with it cultural identity, are being lost.
‘The Endless Journey’ is a multi media event recounting their efforts to
stem the haemorrhaging of Niger’s cultural heritage in film, images and
music.
Drought, poverty, globalisation and the spread of radical Islamic
ideas are rapidly changing the landscape in Niger both environmentally
and politically. The grasslands are barren and the way of life for
Nomadic peoples across the sub Saharan region is increasingly
unsustainable. Migration to the city is the only option remaining for
many. It’s a dramatic contrast for people whose survival has for
centuries revolved around their livestock, with their lives played out
across the shifting sands. Once in the city the pressure to blend into
the ‘urban’ community is a powerful force deeply eroding cultural
identity within a single generation.
The four musicians at the heart of ‘The Endless Journey’ understand
that losing cultural identity makes their country poor, but without a
champion for diversity it’s a very bleak future indeed.
The Film 'The Rolling Music Lesson'
Taking positive action Etran Finatawa, Mamane Barka and Oumarou
Adamou embarked on a road trip, ’The Rolling Music Lesson’, to take
their music to outlying schools across Niger. Their intention was
to inspire the children to value their cultural heritage by meeting
musicians who have travelled and performed their traditions world
wide. Internationally acclaimed photographer and film-maker Jean
Molitor accompanied them and documented their musical journey and the
extraordinary response they received. The subtitled documentary
film gives a rare glimpse of contemporary village life in one of the
poorest countries in the world. The exhibition contrasts scenes of
bustling activity with serenely composed portraiture.
The Documentary Film and Exhibition on tour
The documentary film and photographic exhibition of images by Jean
Molitor are available to promoters of ‘The Endless Journey’ to screen
and project a month in advance of the performance. The performance
itself incorporates specially mixed visuals projected behind the
performers in a powerful and emotive live experience.
More info:
http://www.accessallareas.info/artist_article/46/the-endless-journey.htm
Management and booking worldwide
Visit the artist's web site: www.etranfinatawa.com
