Al Bilali Soudan

From Timbuktu Mali, AL BILALI SOUDAN are members of an extended family of craftsmen who for generations have been sought after musicians and griots. The band is a torch-bearer of quintessentially Tamasheq music shaped by continuous exchange between tehardent and the hand percussion.

Abellou Yattara group elder is a master of their style. He is accompanied by his uncle Aboubacrine Yattara forming the group’s core. They are joined by their sons Mohamed and Tchiale who bring youth and energy to the music. Lightning fast, sometimes looping, this is intense mastery of a traditional repertoire improvised and adapted into the 21st century.

This genre of music has been performed from at least the 16th century by Tuareg griots to celebrate the end of harvest and the changing seasons, hreroic warriors, noble families. In contrast to Tuareg contemporaries like Tinariwen and Bombino, Al Bilali Soudan take an acoustic approach to Tamasheq folk music traditions.

The group’s primary influences were Ahmoudou Ag Intalokete, Abellou Yattara’s father and Agou Keina his uncle. Other influences include Amano Ag Issa of the group Tartit, Ali Farka Toure, Khaira Arby, Fissa Maiga, Bassekou Kouyate, the band Super Onze de Gao and Afel Bocoum.