Tal National

Originating in Niamey, Niger’s capital in West Africa, the expansive ensemble Tal National assembled in 2000 under the direction of its magnetic frontman, the West African guitar virtuoso Hamadal Issoufou Moumine, better known as Almeida. Supported by rotating lineups of five to twelve players and vocalists, Almeida built the group into a dominant local force via relentless regional travel and high-octane shows that sometimes occurred five nights weekly and stretched to five hours in length. Their debut release, Apokte, appeared in 2006; two years later came the improved-sounding A-Na Waya, which cemented their status as the leading act in the area, scored massive popularity inside Niger, and reached wider listeners abroad after three YouTube clips circulated. In 2011 the musicians began work on their third album, Kaani, tracking it inside a run-down studio alongside Chicago engineer Jamie Carter, the same technician who had earlier journeyed to Niger for A-Na Waya. Tal National inked a deal with FatCat Records in April 2013, and the worldwide issue of Kaani enabled the band to perform beyond its borders. Capitalizing on the album’s broad acclaim, the group brought Carter back to helm the follow-up, Zoy Zoy, issued by FatCat in spring 2015; the record broadened their global profile and was bolstered by multiple U.S. tours. Returning Carter to Niamey once more, they captured Tantabara—their third FatCat outing—which surfaced in February 2018.