Tinariwen
Tuareg collective from northern Mali who electrified the music of the Sahara. Interlocking guitar lines, hand claps and call-and-response vocals carry songs of exile and the desert.
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About Tinariwen
Tinariwen began among young Tuareg exiles in the refugee camps and settlements of Libya and Algeria, gathered around guitarist and songwriter Ibrahim Ag Alhabib. Several early members were caught up in the Tuareg rebellions of the 1990s before the group settled back in northern Mali and turned fully to music. They sing in Tamashek, and their style, known locally as assouf or tishoumaren, sets electric guitar over the rhythms of older desert music.
The Radio Tisdas Sessions (2001) introduced them to listeners abroad, followed by Amassakoul and Aman Iman. Tassili, a largely acoustic record made in the Algerian desert, won the Grammy for Best World Music Album. The line-up has always been fluid, with musicians coming and going between records and tours.
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Questions about Tinariwen
What festivals is Tinariwen playing in 2027?
Tinariwen is booked at 1 festival we cover: Golden Plains 2027.
Is Tinariwen on tour?
Yes. Tinariwen has 6 shows listed, from Hobart, Australia on Feb 26, 2027 to Northcote, Australia on Mar 11, 2027, plus 1 festival on the page above.
Is Tinariwen playing Golden Plains 2027?
Yes, Tinariwen is on the Golden Plains 2027 lineup, March 6–8, 2027 at Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, Meredith, VIC, Australia.
What kind of music does Tinariwen play?
Tinariwen plays worldwide.
Who is in Tinariwen?
Tinariwen is Ibrahim ag Alhabib (guitar, lead vocals), Alhassane ag Touhami, Liya Ag Ablil (guitar), Alhousseini ag Abdoulahi (guitar, lead vocals), Mohamed ag Itlal (guitar), Abdallah ag Lamida (guitar, background vocals), Mustapha ag Ahmed, Abdallah ag Alhousseyni, Saïd ag Ayad (percussion, background vocals), Eyadou ag Leche (bass, background vocals), Kedou Ag Ossad, Mohammed Ag Tahada and Wonou walet Sidat (background vocals). Former members include Intayaden Ag Ablil, Wounou wallet Oumar, Elaga ag Hamid and Mina wallet Oumar.
When did Tinariwen form?
Tinariwen formed in Kidal in 1982.
What was Tinariwen's first album?
Tinariwen's first album was Ténéré (1993). The latest is Hoggar (2026).