Biography
Ensemble Tartit voices the nomadic sounds of the Sahara Desert through emotional vocal harmonies paired with intricate patterns of shouts and handclaps, supported by the tehardent and imzod, early forms of the guitar and violin. The ensemble originated from women in a refugee camp association located in Burkina Faso, where they blend age-old pieces recounting journeys and legendary figures from history with contemporary compositions addressing shifts in women's status and the pursuit of peace. As www.azawan.com states, "to hear their ballads and their compelling call-and-response songs is to be transported into the endless expanses of the Sahara. You can hear the flames crackling as you listen to the entrancing voices of these women." A substantial portion of their material draws from the heritage songs of the Tuaregs belonging to the Kel Antessar Confederation, a nomadic people inhabiting the Niger River Basin in northern Mali. Their initial public appearance took place during the MASA Trade Fair for African Arts held in Abidjin, Ivory Coast, during 1995, followed by a European tour alongside the Kocani Orkestar in 1998. The year 2000 marked their North American debut. During the WOMAD Festival in Seattle, the ensemble delivered a dynamic selection of their material while also sharing the stage with fellow Malians Afel Bocoum and Ali Farka Toure. Ensemble Tartit's members now make their home in Belgium.
Albums