Born in the Azawagh desert of Niger, Mdou Moctar taught himself to play a homemade guitar and found his first fans in the West African mobile phone music trading network. After one of those tracks proved a standout on the cult compilation Music From Saharan Cellphones Vol. 1, he was signed to Sahel Sounds where his electrified, psych-influenced takes on traditional Tuareg guitar reached even wider acclaim.
But Moctar became even more of a cult figure as the star and soundtrack composer for Christopher Kirkley’s 2015 film Akounak Tedalat Taha Tazoughai – a hit at film festivals around the world, and not only the first Tuareg-language feature film but also a Prince homage unlike any other.
Making his Australian debut as part of a trio, Moctar calls to mind Jimi Hendrix at his most mystical, as well as the West African desert-rock giants whose traditions he has twisted into something that feels entirely new.
