Tuareg Band Tinariwen Releases Tenth Album 'Hoggar' with Political Themes and New Collaborations

The Tuareg musical group Tinariwen has released their tenth studio album titled 'Hoggar,' recorded in Tamanrasset, Algeria. The album marks a departure from their previous work 'Amatssou' (2023), which was produced with Daniel Lanois and incorporated American country elements. For 'Hoggar,' founding members Ibrahim Ag Alhabib, Abdallah Ag Alhousseyni, and Touhami Ag Alhassane returned to their origins in southern Algeria to collaborate with younger Tuareg musicians including Iyad Moussa Ben Abderrahmane of Imarhan, Hicham Bouhasse, and Haiballah Akhamouk. Recording sessions lasted one month in a studio setting rather than their usual desert environment. The album contains political commentary, particularly addressing the presence of Russian Wagner mercenaries in Mali's Sahel region following France's military withdrawal in 2022. Musical highlights include 'Sagherat Assani,' a traditional Sudanese-Sahara melody performed by Sudanese oud player Sulafa Elyas, and 'Aba Malik,' which directly criticizes Wagner mercenaries. The album features increased female vocal contributions from Wonou Walet Sidati and Nounou Kaola, and includes a Spanish verse from José González on 'Imidiwan Takyadam.' Despite members aging into their seventies, the band continues performing to promote their homeland and advocate for peace.