Tartit
Encyclopedia
The Ensemble Tartit are a band from the Tombouctou Region of Mali
. The group comprised five women and four men, all of whom are members of the Tamasheq ethnic group (also known as Tuareg). They met in a refugee camp in Burkina Faso
, where their music was a means of survival in the face of the economic, social and political difficulties of the region.
In 1995, within months of their formation, Tartit performed their debut concert at the MASA Trade Fair for African Arts in Abidjan
, Côte d'Ivoire
. In the same year they were invited to the Festival of Women's Voices in Liege, Belgium
. Tartit toured Europe in 1998 and then in 2000 toured North America. At the WOMAD Festival in Seattle, after performing their own set, the group joined fellow Malians Ali Farka Touré
and Afel Bocoum
on stage. They also appeared at the Desert Music Festival
, where they again played with Touré and Bocoum, and also joined Tinariwen
, Robert Plant
, Oumou Sangaré
, Lo'Jo
and Baba Salah. Tartit has collaborated with other musicians, such as Susan McKeown
(on her album Sweet Liberty), and their songs have been included on compilations such as, Rèves d'Oasis: Desert Blues.
Tartit released their first album, titled Amazagh, in 1997. They became better-known with the release of their second album, Ichchila, recorded in 2000. More recently, the group released their third album, Abacabok.
Tartit's compositions include ballads and call-and-response. Their lyrics are expressions of hope, peace and expose the power of life.
To contribute actively to the development of their region, the band also formed a United Nations
-recognized association dedicated to preserving and raising awareness of Malian music and culture. The association, likewise, develops schools for children and economic opportunities for women.
Most of Tartit's songs are simply structured. The female members of the band play the traditional instruments, imzad
and tinde, and are supplemented by the teherdent ngoni
and/or electric guitar played by the men. To these instruments are added chants and percussive handclaps. The result is a sort of desert blues.
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
. The group comprised five women and four men, all of whom are members of the Tamasheq ethnic group (also known as Tuareg). They met in a refugee camp in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
, where their music was a means of survival in the face of the economic, social and political difficulties of the region.
In 1995, within months of their formation, Tartit performed their debut concert at the MASA Trade Fair for African Arts in Abidjan
Abidjan
Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...
, Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
. In the same year they were invited to the Festival of Women's Voices in Liege, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Tartit toured Europe in 1998 and then in 2000 toured North America. At the WOMAD Festival in Seattle, after performing their own set, the group joined fellow Malians Ali Farka Touré
Ali Farka Touré
Ali Ibrahim “Farka” Touré was a Malian singer and guitarist, and one of the African continent’s most internationally renowned musicians. His music is widely regarded as representing a point of intersection of traditional Malian music and its North American cousin, the blues...
and Afel Bocoum
Afel Bocoum
Afel Bocoum is a musician from Mali, noted as a singer and guitarist. He began his career as a member of Ali Farka Toure's group ASCO, and Toure is often regarded as his mentor. Both men come from the town of Niafunke on the River Niger, and are members of the Sonrai people...
on stage. They also appeared at the Desert Music Festival
Desert Music Festival
The Festival au Désert is an annual concert in Essakane, Mali, showcasing traditional Tuareg music as well as music from around the world. The Tuareg band Tinariwen first garnered international attention with their performance at the 2001 Festival.A French language documentary entitled Le...
, where they again played with Touré and Bocoum, and also joined Tinariwen
Tinariwen
Tinariwen is a band of Tuareg-Berber musicians from the Sahara Desert region of northern Mali. The band was formed around 1979 in refugee camps in Libya but returned to Mali after a cease-fire in the 1990s...
, Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
, Oumou Sangaré
Oumou Sangaré
Oumou Sangare is a Malian Wassoulou musician, sometimes referred to as "The Songbird of Wassoulou." Wassoulou is a historic region south of the Niger River, and the music there is descended from traditional hunting songs, and is accompanied by a calabash...
, Lo'Jo
Lo'Jo
Lo'Jo are a group of France-based musicians, performing and recording a blend of world music with strong North African as well as French folk elements....
and Baba Salah. Tartit has collaborated with other musicians, such as Susan McKeown
Susan McKeown
Susan McKeown is an Irish songwriter, folk singer and producer.-Early years:Susan McKeown was born on February 6, 1967 to John Ryan and Jane Ann McKeown in Terenure, Dublin, Ireland. She was greatly influenced by her mother, an organist and composer who died in 1982...
(on her album Sweet Liberty), and their songs have been included on compilations such as, Rèves d'Oasis: Desert Blues.
Tartit released their first album, titled Amazagh, in 1997. They became better-known with the release of their second album, Ichchila, recorded in 2000. More recently, the group released their third album, Abacabok.
Tartit's compositions include ballads and call-and-response. Their lyrics are expressions of hope, peace and expose the power of life.
To contribute actively to the development of their region, the band also formed a United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
-recognized association dedicated to preserving and raising awareness of Malian music and culture. The association, likewise, develops schools for children and economic opportunities for women.
Most of Tartit's songs are simply structured. The female members of the band play the traditional instruments, imzad
Imzad
The imzad is a single-string bowed instrument used by the Tuareg people in Africa.Its body is made out of a calabash or wood which is covered by animal skin. The strings are made from horse hair and are connected near the neck, and runs over a two part bridge...
and tinde, and are supplemented by the teherdent ngoni
Xalam
Xalam, also spelled khalam, is the Wolof name for a traditional stringed musical instrument from West Africa. The xalam is thought to have originated from modern-day Mali, but some believe that, in antiquity, the instrument may have originated from ancient Egypt...
and/or electric guitar played by the men. To these instruments are added chants and percussive handclaps. The result is a sort of desert blues.
Band members
- Fadimata Walett Oumar - vocals, tinde drum
- Walett Oumar Zeinabou - vocals, tinde drum
- Mama Walett Amoumine - vocals, tinde drum
- Fadimata W. Mohamedun (Fatma) - vocals, tinde drum
- Tafa Al Hosseini - vocals, imzad
- Mohamed Issa ag Oumar - lead electric guitar, vocals
- Ag Mohamed Idwal - 4-string teherdent lute, guitar
- Amanou - 3-string tehardent lute, guitar, vocals
- Mossa Ag Mohamed - vocals
Discography
- Abacabok (Crammed DiscsCrammed DiscsCrammed Discs is an independent record label whose output blends world music, rock, pop, and electronica. Based in Brussels, Belgium, Crammed was founded in 1980 by Marc Hollander of Aksak Maboul and has since released over 300 albums and 250 singles, working with artists from all over the world...
) - Ichichila
- Amazagh (site of the producer Fontimusical where the album is available)
External links
- Tartit's page on their management company's site
- http://www.crammed.be/index.php?id=34&art_id=125Tartit's page on the Crammed DiscsCrammed DiscsCrammed Discs is an independent record label whose output blends world music, rock, pop, and electronica. Based in Brussels, Belgium, Crammed was founded in 1980 by Marc Hollander of Aksak Maboul and has since released over 300 albums and 250 singles, working with artists from all over the world...
site] - Review Abacabok in Songlines
- Review Ichichila on Rockpaperscissors
- Review of the Festival in the Desert on Rockpaperscissors
- Review of the double CD Reves d' oasis - Desert Blues on Networkmeiden
- Article and photos on Tartit's tour in USA 2003 on Afropop
- Article on Tartit in The Independent
- Article on Tartit on Chronogram
- Website WOMAD