Abdallah Ag Oumbadougou

Abdallah Ag Oumbadougou , born towards 1962 in Tchimoumouneme close to Agadez (Niger), is a guitarist Tuareg.

He buys his first guitar at the 16 years age and learns the music as an autodidact.

The exile and the prison

Decades 70-80 are marked by a great dryness and an increasing marginalisation of the Tuaregs in Niger and the Mali in particular, causing the exile of the young Tuaregs, the ishumars, towards the Libya and the Algérie, in the search of a work and a better future. Abdallah belong to these exiled, and leave in 1984, with two friends for Algeria. The voyage is perilous, it is necessary for them to cross the Sahara of Arlit until Tamanrasset, with foot, clandestinely. They spent 27 days and failed to die thirst. Arrived in Tamanrasset, Abdallah finds a work and continues to play of the guitar the evening for his/her friends. But 7 months later, it is stopped by the police force, is returned to Niger and jeté in prison. Two days hardly after its release, it sets out again for Algeria, this time at Djanet, towards the Libyan border. It is fine 1986, qu ' it joined the camps of drive of Mouammar Kadhafi where there will remain 45 days, the time necessary with its formation and its acceptance within Libya. Every evening, he plays to animate the camp in company of other guitarists. It is the birth of the first group Takrist Akal (meaning Construire the country ) which calls with the unit of the Tuareg people. In 1987, with the death of the general Seyni Kountché, and the come to power of Ali Saïbou which promises the amnesty with exiled, it returns to Niger. It is then invited to play with its group for the price daN Gourmou. But three days after the concert, all the musicians of the group are done stopped, and Abdallah again knows the prison during 21 days. At its exit, it decides to set out again for Libya with one of the members of the group, Sidi Imilawet.

The rebellion touarègue

In May 1990, the government native of Niger massacres civilians Tuaregs with Tchin-Tabaraden, and the Rébellion touarègue consequently becomes inevitable. Abdallah, crossing once more the border, returns then to Niger in 4*4 record player, with Kalachnikov S and cases of ammunition, decided to defend its people. It joined other combatants in the Aïr, in Agadog. The group is attacked by the army native of Niger and is folded up on Anou Malan. Throughout this period, Abdallah will not cease composing. Its songs of revolt in Tamachek celebrate the nostalgia of the country, the hardness of the exile, but especially they invite with the rebellion all the Tuaregs in a position to fight. It is the gasoline of the Tuareg Blues, monotonous chants envoutantes of a traditional music taken again with the electric guitar or dry. For all the period of the rebellion, its compositions are prohibited by the government native of Niger. Any person taken with one of her cassettes risks the prison, even the capital punishment. However its recordings circulate clandestinely through all the Tuareg country, in the campings and the refugee camps.

Peace

With the signature of the peace agreements on April 24th, 1995, Abdallah returns officially to Niger. A crowd awaits it the airport of Niamey to acclaim it. It then gives a great concert to the Palate of the Congresses of Niamey.

In 1995, it also leaves its first album, financed by Maman Abou and recorded with the Bénin, with Cotonou. In 2002, it is the exit of Imawalen , album recorded with Niamey. In 2005 it leaves Afrikya , available to the Niger.

Since, Abdallah uses its notoriety to preserve the culture touarègue. It thus founded association Takrist tada, which defends the rights of the young artists and built music schools to learn how to the young girls to handle the Inzad, a traditional hurdy-gurdy monocorde touarègue. It also built two schools: a first with Arlit, in 2000, and a second in 2003 with Agadez.

Beyond the Sahara

In 1996, with other musicians Tuaregs such as the famous group agadezien Oyiwan, it takes part in the original soundtrack of the film Imûhar, a legend, realized by Jacques Dubuisson. It signs for that a contract with Delabel Editions with which it will have problems of right.

In 2005, under the aegis of Farid Merabet, business manager of the Black Berurier, on the French musicians, allured by his music and its history decides to leave to its meeting to the the Sahara. It is about Daniel Jamet of the Mano Negra, of Guizmo and Manu Eveno, musicians of Tryo and Amazigh Kateb leader of Gnawa Diffusion. Will join Imhotep group IAM and of Sally Nyolo.

They together will form the collective Desert Rebel, will give many concerts and will leave in 2006, an album labellized " Culture équitable".

A film recalling the history of Abdallah and the Ishumars was carried out by François Bergeron. It is entitled Ishumars, the forgotten rockeurs of the desert and is available in DVD on the site of Serves Rebel.

Discography

2002: Imawalen
2005 : Afrikya

External bonds

Site of Serves Rebel
Albums and extracts of Takrist Akal
Interview of Abdallah Ag Oumbadougou

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