Musique du Monde

This principally female group plays and sings seated in the tradition of their nomadic people

“ a spellbinding music colored by strange blues from the desert. Like a starry sky in the middle of a landscape of dunes.” It is in these flattering and poetic terms that  Franck Tenaille, artistic advisor for the series “Music from Here and Elsewhere”, defines Tartit. This Touareg group, from the region of Timbuktu, in the bow of the Niger River, in the north of Mali, is again at Montpellier tonight and tomorrow.

“Our music is very different from other African styles. The themes are traditional, they talk about beautiful times, of the period when men were courageous, of the period of exile. We sing, we play, e dance almost all the time, seated. Our movements are gentle and elegant.” Explains Fadimata Walet Oumar.

Another peculiarity resides in the composition of the instrumentation. The tinde, which is actually a mortar and pestle, becomes a percussive instrument when filled with water to create a very specific bass sound . Endowed like the Touareg women, like violins.

“Originally, our group was exclusively women, all the men were gone . We created Tartit to preserve our endangered culture. The group evolved. We integrated the group with some men to augment the singing, and to play the tehardant, a kind of 3-chord guitar, an instrument specifically performed by griots. Now we have two griots in the group. On tour, we are 9, 4 men and 5 women. The other women stay at home.”

Apart from the traditional path, Tartit composes songs that revolve around: “For the unification of the Touareg peoples, because union is strength, to urge the people to work hard, and to send their children to school. We have everything to learn.”

The Touaregs, naturally nomadic since childhood, move with their flocks, the animals guide them. For those who no longer have animals, settling down has become obligatory. Those people must learn another trade.

The situation has improved in Mali, a democratic country. There are positive changes for the Touaregs. But what is lacking is the means. Because it doesn’t rain in August (ed noe: as it does in the rest of Mali), there is no harvest. “In other times, it was the travellers who made known our traditions. Today, we are the ambassadors of our culture. Our music can be appreciated by all, it immediately draws one in.”