Emerging from the Sahara Desert in 2002, they have grabbed the attention of world music and rock fans alike, stormed the album charts and left a trail of critical acclaim and stunning live appearances behind them.

Rebellion and rock’n’roll have been strutting hand-in-hand for more than half a century, but only very rarely has their union involved real weapons and a painful struggle for survival. In the early 1990s, Tinariwen fought a rebellion against the government of Mali to win greater freedom and self-determination for the Touareg people of the southern Sahara.

The fight gave birth to a whole new style of desert music, which Tinariwen invented and have since used to carry their message of desert pride and survival to the four corners of the globe. Their roots rock rebellion of the soul is one of the most entrancing sounds to emerge from Africa in years.