Tinariwen is a group formed by ethnic Tuaregs, a nomadic people inhabiting the Sahara region of North Africa. In the early 60’s, a Tuareg uprising was violently suppressed by the Malian army and during this period, Ibrahim Ag Alhabib, the leader of Tinariwen, witnessed the execution of his father for helping the rebels.

As a result of the ethnic and political persecution, thousands of Tuaregs sought exile in countries such as Algeria and Libya. The band was formed in the late 70′s and its main feature, unlike the traditional poetry of the heroic deeds of its people, was the lyrics about politics, longing for home and life in exile.

The band’s first CD – prior to it they had only recorded on cassette tapes – came out in 2001. That same year, Tinariwen organized and was the main attraction of the Desert Festival, the largest event devoted to African music. Among his fans are people like Carlos Santana, Robert Plant, Thom Yorke and Brian Eno. Over the past decade, they have launched three more albums and have become one of the most popular African groups.