Tag Archive 'sahara'

Feb 10 2008

Terakaft

Published by admin under music, on the road, videos

Terakaft is one of the best saharan band from the “Ishumar” movement.
Terakaft is a gang of guitarists, in the same vein as Tinariwen. Nothing astonishing about that if you consider that Terakaft was founded by Kedou and Diara, two formative and historical guitarists from Tinariwen.
Moreover Kedou accompanied Tinariwen to the very first Festival with the Desert by Chock-Essako in January 2001, and contributes four songs on their first album The Radio Tisdas Sessions.
At that time Keddou decided to take a different path to Tinariwen, which is now famous in the four corners of the globe. He left to live for two years in Algeria, in Tindouf, Tamanrasset, and then for the same period in Libya, in the desert in the south of the country. Finally, he has returned to settle in Kidal, in Mali, to the great joy of his friends and Tuareg brothers.
Kedou is a celebrity in his own land, both thanks to his part in the history of the rebellion as to his songs. He has teamed up with Diara, one of the original members of Tinariwen, and one of the more “rock’n'roll” guitarists in the group, as well as two young guitarists, Sanou and Rhissa.
It was at the Festival with the Desert of Essakane, in January a 2007, that Terakaft performed their ifirst concert, following it with the Festival of the Camel of Tessalit, before going to Bamako, to record this first album, in four days, at the legendary Bogolan Studios.
Terakaft means “the caravan” in tamashek.

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Jan 22 2008

Niger Afghanistan

Published by admin under cause, geopolitics, photographer

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I’m really glad about the freedom for the two french journalists working on the tuareg rebels in the North of Niger. But since they’re back in Paris. No more news from this country. Not a single line in the newspapers. Not a word on TV.
It’s was exactly the same for Afghanistan before 9/11.
I think people don’t realize what’s happening in Niger. I don’t think people understand that if our western countries don’t help Niger others will do it …

My friend Jean-Marc Durou, a photographer, falled in love with Niger 30 years ago. He has published more than 40 books about Sahara, and still wants to convince our politicians to help Niger … Just as Christophe de Ponfilly did for Afghanistan.
You can discover his work and take a few minutes in Niger.

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Dec 30 2007

Crossing the Sahara

Published by admin under adventure

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Few venturers dare to confront alone the desert. Régis Belleville made it its land of predilection since his childhood.

Confirmed venturer, member of the Society of the French Explorers, awarded by the National Geographical Institute, he is considered as one of the big Saharan travellers. Nicknamed by the nomads “the white camel rider”, he also works for the scientific community.

More than long “méharées”, meeting with the nomads, tight contact with the dromedaries, and permanent discovery of the desert, are his great sources of motivation.

Since 1998, Régis specializes in survival in Saharan middle, human physiology and water stress.

© marine lefebvre

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