Bombino, direct from Niger
April 13, 2012 - 8:00pm
For centuries, the desert town of Agadez has served as a converging point for the great camel caravans driven by the Tuareg that link West Africa with North Africa and the Mediterranean.
Born at a nomadic camp near this dusty outpost, new generation guitarist and songwriter Omara “Bombino” Moctar was raised during an era of armed struggles for Tuareg independence and violent suppression by government forces. Fusing traditional Berber rhythms with the energy of rock and roll, Bombino’s electrifying jams capture the spirit of resistance and rebellion while echoing with guitar riffs reminiscent of fellow Africans Tinariwen and Ali Farka Touré, not to mention rock and blues icons like Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker and Jimmy Page.
Already a superstar in the Tuareg community, the global release of his aptly named new CD Agadez (Cumbancha Discovery) has confirmed Bombino's stature as one of Africa's hottest young guitarists. National Public Radio’s Otis Hart recently raved: “The resulting music contains some of the most sublime guitar licks you'll hear in 2011. The songs on Agadez combine the best traits of Saturday nights and Sunday mornings, mixing killer solos with delicate repetition. The most magical moments come when Bombino finishes a verse — all sung in the Tuareg language of Tamasheq — and begins to lose himself in his guitar. You can't help but follow him down.
After thirty years of drought, rebellion, and tyranny, Bombino extols his audience to remember who they are, but also realize who they can be.
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