Mdou Moctar previews new album with title-track "Afrique Victime"

"Afrique Victime" follows last month's "Tala Tannam", and is the title-track from his new album that will also include last year's "Chismiten" track.

Moctar says of the powerful new song, ""Afrique Victime" is a message to all of the countries with money and power who come into Africa and kill the leaders who try to empower the people and lead revolutions. This pushes the area into danger and instability and emboldens the terrorists, and it’s the people who suffer and have no justice. Africa is innocent. The French use our uranium, but 90% of the people here don't have electricity. Imagine."

The edited version of the track is accompanied by a video filmed in Niger's capital Niamey featuring footage from Moctar's series of impromptu performances last November.

Afrique Victime will follow Moctar's 2019 album Ilana (The Creator), and was recorded and produced by bassist Mikey Coltun during the band's travels in 2019. Afrique Victime was recorded in various hotel rooms, apartments, backstage areas at venues, and in Niger.

Moctar says of the new album, "While people have gotten to know Mdou Moctar as a rock band, there is a whole different set of music with this band done on acoustic guitars, which we wanted to incorporate into this album in order to go through a sonic journey."

He continues, "I want the world to know that we are making music to promote world peace and be with everyone on the same level, fighting against racism. All colours and genders are equal. Women, men and children all suffer in the desert due to the colonisation by France and therefore there is a lack of the basics - hospitals, drinking water, schools."

Moctar adds, "I know what it’s like to have been in that position, to not have the support of your family, or the money for guitars or strings, it’s really hard. I have a lot of support from the younger generation, because I help them out a lot. When I get back from tour, I give them gear that I bought while I was away so they can go out and form their own bands."