Film Fanfare
January 10th, 2012
Bombino, Tamikrest and Ag Jackson
January 9th, 2012
This 2011 november evening, I had the chance to witness my first tuareg rock battle.
On one side of the ring, Bombino from Agadez, Niger, jumping all around and playing with his Fender as fast as he could.
On the other side, Tamikrest from Kidal, Mali, calmly and deeply launching their Gibson sound in the air.
And the winner was ….
Ahmed Abdoulaye Boudane (aka “Ag Jackson”), young tuareg painter, who made a brilliant saharan air guitar show.
Listen to Bombino +++ and Tamikrest +++
Discover Ahmed Abdoulaye Boudane work +++
Tahra Mint Hembara
December 26th, 2011
Tahra Mint Hembara, griot, singer. Nouakchott, Mauritania. 11/2011
Malouma Mint Meidah
December 26th, 2011
Malouma Mint Meidah, amazing singer, politician. Spent time and interviewed her in Nouakchott, Mauritania , november 2011, for a radio documentary for France Culture. Discover her blues +++
Nouakchott
December 26th, 2011
Nouakchott, Mauritania. 11/2011
Beyrouk
December 26th, 2011
M’Barek Ould Beyrouk, writer.
Nouakchott, Mauritania. 11/2011
M’Barek Ould Beyrouk, writer. Nouakchott, Mauritania. 11/2011
Abderrahmane Sissako
December 26th, 2011
Abderrahmane Sissako, director, Paris. 11/2011
Whammy Bar and The Wine Cellar, Auckland
December 25th, 2011While doing a radio documentary, spent many time in Whammy Bar and The Wine Cellar, St Kevin’s Arcade, K’ Road, Auckland.
Loved the spirit of that rock place, met good people, humoristic hipsters and punks, going with them from an exhibition to a music studio. Thx Aucklanders !
Auckland
December 24th, 2011
Alleluya Bar & Cafe, beat place for artists, musicians, poets. K’road spirit. Auckland. New Zealand. 09/2011.
Sahara Rocks
November 14th, 2011The Saharan society is changing fast.
Still a beautiful desert but not only.
Most populated cities such as Tamanrasset are microcosms revealing all the problem of this touristic region: threats of terrorism, traffics, illegal migration, pressures on cultural and natural heritages.
The only ways to escape this harsh reality for Tuareg’s youth are cybercafé and festivals celebrating their guitar heroes,
the “Ishumar”, such as Tinariwen bands.
In Europe, the Saharan diaspora intents to offer a positive image of their native land. They organize events and promote bands from Kidal, Djanet, Agadez or Timbuktu.
Trying to keep alive, by music, the link between Sahara and the Western World.
© Arnaud Contreras
2007-2010
www.arnaudcontreras.com
All pictures with Leica M7 and Summilux M 35mm/f 1,4 and Kodak Tri X 400 ASA
