Etran de L’Aïr

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

Founded in the mid-1990s, the group entertained weddings and parties in Agadez, their hometown, with a rudimentary orchestra: a single acoustic guitar, gourds struck with sandals as percussion...

Over the years, this has adapted, amplifying the acoustic guitar with a transducer microphone, acquiring electric guitars and other drum elements.

Following the legendary Tinariwen, formed in the 1980s in Mali, Etran de L'Aïr blends traditional Tamasheq chants, electric guitars and hypnotic rhythms. But their music breaks conventions and distinguishes itself from the typical Tuareg style.

Incorporating a myriad of influences, from North Mali blues to Congolese soukous without forgetting Hausa bar formations, the group captures the pan-African sound of Agadez and embodies both the energy and musical richness of this metropolis in the heart of the desert.

1" and "Agadez", they return with "100% Sahara Guitar", a project with sunny sonorities, carried by vibrant melodies and collective intensity.

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

They remind us that music can transmit a message while remaining deeply rooted in the celebration and exuberance of family gatherings. Because above all this music is made to dance.