Etran de L’Aïr

Etran de L’Aïr ("the stars of Aïr", referring to the mountain range in northern Niger, their homeland) is a collective made up of brothers and cousins.

Founded in the mid-1990s, the group initially played at weddings and festivals in Agadez, their hometown, using a rudimentary setup: a single acoustic guitar, calabashes beaten with sandals for percussion...

Over the years, the band adapted, amplifying the acoustic guitar with a transducer microphone, acquiring electric guitars and additional drum kit elements.

Following in the footsteps of the legendary Tinariwen, formed in the 1980s in Mali, Etran de L’Aïr blends traditional Tamasheq vocals, electric guitars, and hypnotic rhythms. Yet their music breaks conventions and stands out from the typical Tuareg style.

Integrating a myriad of influences, from Northern Mali blues to Congolese soukous, not to mention Hausa bar bands, the group captures the pan-African sound of Agadez and embodies both the energy and the musical richness of this metropolis in the heart of the desert.

1" and "Agadez", they return with "100% Sahara Guitar", a project with sun-drenched sounds, driven by vibrant melodies and collective intensity.

Through their lyrics, the members of Etran de l’Aïr carry messages of peace and social cohesion, denouncing forced marriages for example and defending women's rights.

They remind us that music can convey a message while remaining deeply rooted in the celebration and exuberance of family parties. Because above all, this music is made for dancing.