Assikel

Description

For twenty years, Tamikrest's music has illuminated the sounds, culture, and consciousness of the Kel Tamasheq (Tuareg) people of the Sahara. Tamikrest means "link" or "union" in tamasheq, and the group has become one of the most important voices of the Kel Tamasheq, channeling their experiences of exile, loss, and resistance. Their sixth studio album, Assikel, which means "journey" or "path," reflects the journey the group has taken. Formed in 2006 by Ousmane Ag Mossa and Cheikh Ag Tiglia, both from Tinzawaten near the Mali-Algeria border, Tamikrest emerged under the influence of Tinariwen, the legendary pioneers of ishumar guitar music. They are now a solid quartet with guitarist Paul Salvagnac, who joined the group in 2012, and percussionist Cédric 'Momo' Maurel, who arrived a year later. Assikel marks a bold sonic turning point and continues the exploration of exile, uprooting, and assouf, an untranslatable tamasheq word that encompasses nostalgia, longing, and homesickness. The music echoes the current situation in Mali, where a junta has been in power since 2021, political opposition is banned, and the media is silenced; the UN peacekeeping mission withdrew in 2023, South Africa is under Russian control, and the exhausted population faces daily violence from jihadists, Malian forces, and Russian paramilitaries. It is therefore not surprising that the eight tracks of Assikel are imbued with urgency and defiance, even though there are also many calmer and introspective moments, characteristic of the group. The instrumentation blends electric and acoustic guitars, soaring lap steel, deep dub bass, hand percussion, calabash, and full drums. The songs oscillate between ishumar rock and hypnotic folk meditations, with Ousmane's voice and storytelling talent always at the forefront. In short, music that only Tamikrest can create. Twenty years later, Tamikrest's musical and cultural role seems more essential than ever. The pure and deeply atmospheric sound of Assikel accentuates the conviction and spiritual strength of Ousmane's writing and the wonderfully melodic arrangements of the group, reaffirming their position as one of the most important voices of the Kel Tamasheq. The final word goes to Ousmane, and his statement may nuance the opinion of those who might be tempted to reduce Tamikrest to a mere group of spokespersons and musicians only. Certainly, politics and oppression are omnipresent, but as he emphasizes with his usual gentleness and clarity: "What motivates us today is what drove us at the beginning: the love of music." Tamikrest is back after too long an absence, and their music resonates and vibrates louder than ever.