“Our music is the sound of Agadez,” says band member Moussa “Abindi” Ibra, referencing the Niger city serving as the band’s base. “We play in a lineage that is made up of those who came before us, but we aim to keep this tradition alive.”

Mixing the desert blues from Niger with other musical genres from West Africa, the electric guitars and rhythms of Etran de l’Aïr shake up the musical landscape, while keeping traditions alive.

Vibrant sounds

Etran de L’Aïr, or “the Stars of the Aïr,” is a family-composed band of brothers and cousins: sons of nomadic families who settled in Agadez. Their name refers to Northern Niger’s mountainous region. Alongside Ibra, the band includes Abdourahamane “Allamine” Ibrahim, Abdoulaye “Illa” Ibrahim and Albhabid Ghabdouan – all born and raised in the small Nigerien neighbourhood of Abalane in Agadez.

“We play our own songs; we compose together back home,” shares Ibra. “Each person brings their own poetry, their own notes.”

In the desertic climate of Niger, and on their way to neighbouring countries, the Tuareg people of the Sahara developed a very vibrant musical scene. Combining instruments old and new, local artists use modern sounds to carry their traditions.

“We play electric guitar, bass and drums,” says Ibra. “Back home, we also have djembe [a West African traditional drum] played by our kids.”

Etran de l’Aïr, a band with 25 years of history, plays everywhere and for everyone. Their collective inspiration of West and Saharan African music cheers people at weddings, baptism and other large gatherings to celebrate family and community.

“In Agadez, our performances last a lot longer than the concerts here; sometimes we play for six hours,” adds Ibra. “There’s lots of festivities, and dancing, and we always play outside.”

Expanding musical traditions

This love for all good music from all parts of the world pushes Etran de l’Aïr to embrace their multicultural approach, integrating and sharing different inspirations, rhythms and languages. They create new ways to express emotions, while staying true to their roots and culture.

“We grew up listening to other Tuareg artists, like Abdallah Oumbadougou,” shares Ibra. “We also listen to a lot of West African music, music from Mali, like Ali Farka Touré.”

Amongst their musical inspirations is also soukous, a genre of dance music from Congo. But regardless of the venue and the event, the family band Etran de l’Aïr is dedicated to bringing cheers wherever they go, with whomever they meet and sharing their love for their traditions and culture with the rest of the world – one original track at a time.

“We sing in Tamashek, our language in Niger,” Ibra adds. “We also sometimes sing in French.”

Drawing inspiration from their travels, the group honours each culture’s uniqueness while celebrating each family member’s personality and talent.

Featuring Maya Ongaku as the opening act, the concerts are presented by Caravan World Rhythms in partnership with Modo Live.

For more information on the concert at The Wicket Hall (Victoria) see www.caravanbc.com/events/etran-de-lair-desert-blues-of-niger-victoria

For more information on the concert at The Pearl (Vancouver), see www.caravanbc.com/events/etran-de-lair-saharan-blues-from-niger

For more information on the band, see www.sahelsounds.com/artists/etran-de-lai