Mdou Moctar unveils new song "Taliat"

"Taliat" is the fourth and final preview of Afrique Victime, following previous singles "Afrique Victime", "Tala Tannam" and "Chismiten".

Moctar says of the new single, ""Taliat" means woman. In our community, women are queens, they have a lot of power, that why I use the term taliat to talk about them. A woman in the Tuareg community has to be protected, but she also has to be treated as equal."

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."