Anewal is the latest project of Etran Finatawa frontman and former member of the Tinariwen movement Alhousseini Anivolla. Conceived in 2014, the trio follows in the path first treaded in by Alhousseini with his 2012 solo debut "Anewal / The Walking Man."

"Osas – It's time!" – State-of-The-Art 21st century Desert Blues. Deeply rooted in North African traditional song – riding high on global trance. Biting plucked riffs with natural distortions, bass grooves and rhythms. Strong songwriting, performing and storytelling reflecting in subtle variety the situation in the Sahara and the Sahel before the turbulent events of recent history and after. Before – paradise lost. After – keep on! Soothing offers of sympathy, solidarity and consolation for those involved and the audience alike – “Osas – It’s time!” is both a levelheaded survey and tireless motivation alike plus quite an offer of spirituality to help us all beyond.

Born in 1973 in the Sahara, Alhousseini Anivolla is a nomad: "I have kept animals", he outlines his background in brief, "observed the stars in the desert at night. My dromedary was my best friend. Then came the drought and I went to the city with my father in 1987. Since then, longing has become my companion."

The longing for the surroundings of his youth, the century-old rituals and traditions, the proud Tamashek ancestors for one. Moreover – in times of globalisation, living between Niger and Europe, namely Berlin, as Alhousseini does – a longing for a way out of the universal trap all and everybody has landed in today.

The only safe harbour remaining – balsam on the emptiness left where once were home and belonging, source of hope that we can make it anyway – is music:

"The songs are a light shining in the heart, they comfort in a confused time. Melodies like the wind. The love of my country and traditions, the yearning of home; no one can take away those memories. The songs are there, they live, and they are perhaps the only thing that remains. They are light in the shade."

So Alhousseini Anivolla keeps singing these songs, old and new – the songs of his people, Kel Tamashek. Songs of respect for each other and nature, songs of hospitality. The Sahara and the Sahel. And, songs of the situation that evolved after the colonial period – the region exploding in one revolt after another, civil wars driving hundreds of thousands from their homes, international companies exploiting the resources area-wide – a region now in constant turmoil.

Listening tip

“Tamadrite Nakal”

“Youth, youth of the world / Get together and stay together, so that evil can’t separate you / The enemy is evil, and it’s a part of you. It is everywhere, all around you / Be careful. Keep it away!”

Light-hearted, light-footed as only the youth is capable of treading the earth – weightless guitars, prancing guilelessly over an elated bass groove; and the friendly reminder of the elder, more experienced generation NEVER to lose early childhood’s innocent idyll just by taking it for granted.