Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

2. Abdallah Oumbadougou

Abdallah Oumbadogou is really the founder, the source of my music. He was a really local artist to me who was really well known at the time of the first Tuareg rebellion [1962-64], when the Tuareg revolted against what was happening in Niger, the fact that there was no consideration for the Tuaregs and the exploitation of our resources. Oumbadougou was really the artist who wrote poems that encouraged rebellion. I saw him play a live concert outside when I was young and I saw that everyone was happy, everyone loved what he was doing and I said to myself that I wanted to be like that person. From that moment I said to myself that I should become a guitarist, when I saw the people there jumping for joy.

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