Photo: Mdou Moctar, photo by Cem Misirlioglu

Mahamadou Souleymane, known professionally as Mdou Moctar  is a Tuareg songwriter and musician based in Agadez, Niger, and is one of the first musicians to perform modern electronic adaptations of Tuareg guitar music.

18 May 2021 | JORDAN DARVILLE | Fader

One of our most eagerly anticipated releases this week is the new album from Touareg guitarist Mdou Moctar. Afrique Victime released 12 May 2021, and its singles “Chismiten” and “Tala Tannam” have both appeared on our weekly Songs You Need playlist over the months.

The latest track from the album “Taliat” arrives today; the sounds of its freewheeling psychedelic guitar shredding and tales of romantic woe soundtrack a front seat-facing lyric video.

“’Taliat’ means woman,” Moctar said in a press statement. “In our community, women are queens, they have a lot of power, that why I use the term ‘taliat’ to talk about them. A woman in the Tuareg community has to be protected, but she also has to be treated as equal.”

A tour of the US is slated for September.