Arnaud Contreras Photo Journal

Film Fanfare

acontreras — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:48:31 +0000

Bombino, Tamikrest and Ag Jackson

acontreras — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:28:19 +0000

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

acontreras — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 15:46:54 +0000

Tahra Mint Hembara, griot, singer. Nouakchott, Mauritania. 11/2011

Malouma Mint Meidah

acontreras — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 15:42:07 +0000

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

acontreras — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 15:31:41 +0000

Nouakchott, Mauritania. 11/2011

Beyrouk

acontreras — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 13:34:49 +0000

M’Barek Ould Beyrouk, writer.

Nouakchott, Mauritania. 11/2011

M’Barek Ould Beyrouk, writer. Nouakchott, Mauritania. 11/2011

Abderrahmane Sissako

acontreras — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 08:32:46 +0000

Abderrahmane Sissako, director, Paris. 11/2011

Whammy Bar and The Wine Cellar, Auckland

acontreras — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 17:16:13 +0000

While 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

acontreras — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:07:06 +0000

Alleluya Bar & Cafe, beat place for artists, musicians, poets. K’road spirit. Auckland. New Zealand. 09/2011.

Sahara Rocks

acontreras — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:11:08 +0000

The 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.

All pictures with Leica M7 and Summilux M 35mm/f 1,4 and Kodak Tri X 400 ASA