Paths To Self-Determination: Tuareg Music

Colonization drastically impacted Africa and its different ethnic groups. One of these ethnic groups is the nomadic Tuareg people of Northwest Africa. The introduction of borders and the concept of states severely changed their nomadic lifestyle giving them a minority status in different countries such as Mali, Niger and Libya. This minority status led to marginalization and eventually the fight for self-determination that erupted in Mali and Niger after the end of colonization. From the 1990s onward, several bands have emerged to become the voices of the Tuareg people. For my research, I focused on the country of Mali and the different types of music that appeared within the Tuareg community as a result of the struggle. After the rebellion during the early 1990s, music has been used to give a deep emotional insight into the Tuareg\u27s fight for self-determination in Mali. In this research, I analyzed the lyrics,instruments, and melody used by three bands: Tamikrest, Tinariwen, and Tartit. These three bands have distinct messages but the same love for the Sahara and their community. Their music perfectly expresses the struggle of the Tuaregs, who like many other societies, are stuck between modernity and tradition. Music became a powerful weapon for the Tuaregs because it not only allowed them to share their struggle with the world, it made them hear their own voices