ETRAN FINATAWA

The band is a formation of tuaregs and wodaabe. The band was formed in january 2004. It is the first group at all with wodaabe people making modern music. Etran Finatawa-literally the stars of tradition- was born as a group of 10 musiciens who want to bring the two rich nomad cultures together, profit one of the other and to create a new music-style: Nomad´s blues. The tour group consists of 6 musicians.Wodaabe and Tuaregs share the same regions for living, but their music is very different: Wodaabe sing in a traditional matter, they put traditional costumes and make up on. They do not use any instruments but sing in a multivocal way while they dance in slow motion. Their dance, their costumes and their rhythm is unique in the world. Tuareg people have always used instruments, violins and drums to animate their songs and dances. Since the seventies the guitar has found its way in tuareg music. This style is called Ichumar and is a part of Etran Finatawa's repertoire. Etran Finatawa combines the two rich cultures: Their songs are in two languages, tuareg language (tamasheck) and Wodaabe language (fulfulde). The band instrumentalizes the polyphonic songs of the wodaabe people by means of traditional percussion like calebashes and tende, a traditional tuareg drum. The rhythm is given by a guitar. The polyphonic choir of wodaabe singers gives a special note to their music. Handclapping and the rich percussion leads the songs, invite to dance. Their melodies, their rythms, their voices create a sound picture of the sahelian grasslands, the desert. Their songs talk about nomad's life, isolation and liberty, they talk about happy days, and love and festivities as well as about bad days, droughts, poverty and exode.Recordings New CD "Desert crossroads"to be released in APRIL 2008 with world Music Network/Riverboat www.worldmusic.net "Introducing Etran Finatawa" INTRO105CD, produced by World Music Network London summer 2005, released spring 2006 "Tissiway Fidjo", produced by Etran Finatawa Niger 2004/2005Contact Managment: Sandra van Edig Email: etranfinatawa add yahoo.fr www.etranfinatawa.comPress comments about Etran Finatawa "Electric guitars and traditional instrument sent wine like old friends as rustic call-and-response vocals stir up the desert heat. Comparisons aside, this debut is dynamite." (Global Rhythm, Sep.2006)"Introducing Etran Finatawa is a musical experience full of life in a desert environment that is seemingly lifeless." (Inside World Music)"Electric guitars and traditional instruments entwine like old friends as rustic call-and –response vocals stir up the desert heat. Comparisions aside, this debut is dynamite." (Global Rhythm (New York) – September 06)"Just listen to the guitar solos on A Dunya and you'll be instantly seduced by the beauty of this music which has its roots in the West African country of Niger. Marvel at Iledeman and in the driving 12-bar structure you can hear the real roots of American blues." (Sydney Morning Herald – August 2006)"It seems Etran Finatawa are on a mission of far greater urgency than just making us dance to their gorgeous grooves". (The Independent, 31 July 2006, Feature by Andy Morgan)Etran Finatawa Tour program 2007 Australia/New Zealand 28/2-18/3 WOMAD Adelaide Australia WOMAD TARANAKI New Zealand Brazil state of Sao Paulo and Santa Catarina 28/3-10/4Europe summer tour 18/5-22/7/07 Asia 22. Aug WOMAD Singapore www.womad-singapore.com Europe winter tour 2007 28/11-8/12/072008 16-30th April USA1stMay-mid July EuropeNov-Dec 2008 Europe