Tinariwen - Aman Iman (Water is Life) - (10) Tamatant Tilay

Tinariwen are a nomadic band of Touareg people that was formed in 1982. They have produced two studio albums (although many cassette recordings of their earlier ’informal’ albums exist) that represent true, rhythmic tribal tunes. Their songs, sung mostly in French and Tamashek, mainly cover the yearning felt for independence of the Touareg people from the government of Mali, as well as the sounds and feelings of desert life, a stark way of living reflected in the title of their second studio album [i]Aman Iman[/i] (’Water is Life’). They came to world attention in 2001 after performing at a Malian music festival and have since travelled around the US and Europe to perform at various niche festivals. They have become increasingly popular among lovers of world music, as well as acting as a living icon of a somewhat oppressed people channeling their hopes, feelings, yearnings and desires through music, and in that way are revolutionary. They are also believed to be the first Touareg band to use electric gui