{{Short description|Malian band}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians --> | name = Tartit | image = | caption = | image_size = | background = group_or_band | alias = | origin = [[Tombouctou Region]], [[Mali]] | genre = [[Desert blues]] | years_active = 1992-present | label = [[Crammed Discs]] | associated_acts = Imharhan | website = | current_members = | past_members = Mohammed Issa }}
'''Tartit''' (meaning "union") are a band from the [[Tombouctou Region]] of [[Mali]]. The group consists of five women and four men, all of whom are [[Tamasheq language|Tamasheq]]-speaking [[Tuareg people|Tuareg]].<ref name="nastos" /> They formed in 1992 in a refugee camp in [[Mauritania]].<ref name="apww" /> '''Imharhan''', an expanded group that includes current and former Tartit members, incorporates [[electric instrument]]s and cross-cultural experiments into their music.<ref name="rps_bio" /><ref name="apww2013-07-19" />
== History == In 1995, Tartit performed their debut concert at the MASA Trade Fair for African Arts in [[Abidjan]], [[Côte d'Ivoire]]. In the same year they were invited to the [[Festival of Women's Voices]] in [[Liège]], [[Belgium]]. Tartit toured Europe in 1998 and then in 2000 toured North America. At the [[WOMAD Festival]] in [[Seattle]], after performing their own set, the group joined fellow Malians [[Ali Farka Touré]] and [[Afel Bocoum]] on stage. In 2003 they appeared at the [[Festival au Désert|Festival in the Desert]],<ref name="apww" /> where they again played with Touré and Bocoum, and also joined [[Tinariwen]], [[Robert Plant]], [[Oumou Sangaré]], [[Lo'Jo]] and [[Baba Salah]]. Tartit has collaborated with other musicians, such as [[Susan McKeown]] (on her album ''[[Sweet Liberty (Susan McKeown album)|Sweet Liberty]]''), and their songs have been included on compilations such as, ''Rèves d'Oasis: Desert Blues''.
Tartit released their first album, ''Amazagh'', in 1997. They became better-known with the release of their second album, ''Ichchila'', recorded in 2000. In 2006, the group released their third album, ''Abacabok''.
To contribute actively to the development of their region, the band also formed a [[United Nations]]-recognized association dedicated to preserving and raising awareness of Malian music and culture. The association, likewise, develops schools for children and economic opportunities for women.
Tartit's compositions include [[ballads]] and [[call-and-response]] songs. Most of Tartit's songs are simply structured. The female members of the band play the traditional instruments, [[imzad]]<ref name="apww" /> and [[tende]], and are supplemented by the teherdent [[Xalam|ngoni]] and/or electric guitar played by the men. To these instruments are added chants and percussive handclaps. The result is a sort of desert blues.
In February 2013, {{interlanguage link|Freemuse|qid=Q1453589|short=s}} reported that Tartit had fled the [[Timbuktu]] area due to the [[Northern Mali conflict (2012–present)|Northern Mali conflict]].<ref name="morgan">{{Cite web | last=Morgan | first=Andy | url=http://freemuse.org/graphics/Publications/PDF/Music-Culture-Conflict_MALI.pdf | title=Music, Culture and Conflict in Mali | publisher=Freemuse |date=February 2013 | pages=35–36 | accessdate=2013-03-03 }}</ref> Leader Fadimata Walett Oumar (known as "Disco") fled to [[Ouagadougou]], [[Burkina Faso]] while other members went to [[Bobo-Dioulasso]] or to [[Mauritania]].<ref name="morgan" /> This complicated efforts to perform at European concerts during summer 2012; guitarist Mohammed Issa was unable to secure a visa while living in Mauritania and could not appear with the group.<ref name="morgan" />
Mohammed Issa formed an affiliated group, Imharhan.<ref name="rps_bio" /><ref name="apww2013-07-19" /> Banning Eyre, writing for [[Afropop Worldwide]], has noted that "with a more electric, 'modern' sound, Imharhan kind of splits the difference between Tartit and Tinariwen, with the women of Tartit participating with vocals and dance."<ref name="apww2013-07-19" /> In July and August 2013, Tartit and Imharhan performed throughout North America with singer-guitarist [[Mamadou Kelly]] as the Festival au Desert - Caravan for Peace.<ref name="apww2013-07-19" /><ref name="rps_pr" /><ref name="nyt2013-07-30" />
== Band members== * Fadimata Walett Oumar ("Disco")<ref name="apww" /> - vocals, tinde drum * Walett Oumar Zeinabou - vocals, tinde drum * Mama Walett Amoumine - vocals, tinde drum * Fadimata W. Mohamedun (Fatma) - vocals, tinde drum * Tafa Al Hosseini - vocals, imzad * Mohamed Issa ag Oumar - lead electric guitar, vocals * Ag Mohamed Idwal - 4-string teherdent lute, guitar * Amanou - 3-string tehardent lute, guitar, vocals * Mossa Ag Mohamed - vocals
==Discography==
;Albums * ''Amazagh'' (1997), Fontimusical * ''Ichichila'' (2000) *''Abacabok'' (2006), [[Crammed Discs]] *''Tartit: Amankor/ The exile'' (2019), [[World Music Network]]
;Contributing artist * ''[[The Rough Guide To Desert Blues]]'' (2010), [[World Music Network]]
== References == {{Reflist|refs= * <ref name="nastos">{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=tartit-mn0000746718|tab=biography|label=Tartit|last=Nastos|first=Michael G.|accessdate=22 April 2014 }}</ref> * <ref name="apww">{{cite podcast | title=Timbuktu, Dakar, Fes Flight Plan | url=http://www.afropop.org/radio/radio_program/ID/855 | accessdate=2012-05-27 | work=[[Afropop Worldwide]] | publisher=[[Public Radio International|PRI]] | date=2012-04-12 | type=archived broadcast | orig-year=Festival in the Desert segment originally recorded and broadcast in 2003 | time-caption=Event begins at | time=7:43 }}</ref> <ref name="rps_bio">{{Cite web | title=Bio - More About Caravan for Peace and its Artists | url=http://www.rockpaperscissors.biz/index.cfm/fuseaction/current.bio/project_id/721.cfm | year=2013 | publisher=Rock Paper Scissors |accessdate=2013-08-16 }}</ref> <ref name="rps_pr">{{Cite press release | url=http://www.rockpaperscissors.biz/index.cfm/fuseaction/current.press_release/project_id/721.cfm | title=Caravan for Peace: Mali's Call for Peaceful, Dialogue Comes to the US this Summer | year=2013 | publisher=Rock Paper Scissors | accessdate=2013-08-16 | archive-date=2013-07-02 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702054408/http://www.rockpaperscissors.biz/index.cfm/fuseaction/current.press_release/project_id/721.cfm | url-status=dead }}</ref> <ref name="nyt2013-07-30">{{Cite news | first=Larry | last=Rohter | title=Musical Nomads, Escaping Political Upheaval | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/31/arts/music/musical-nomads-escaping-political-upheaval.html | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | date=2013-07-30 | accessdate=2013-08-16 }}</ref> <ref name="apww2013-07-19">{{Cite web | first=Banning | last=Eyre | title=Caravan Pour la Paix Brings Mali Desert Vibe to Montreal | url=http://www.afropop.org/wp/11642/caravan-pour-la-paix-brings-mali-desert-vibe-to-montreal/ | website=Afropop Worldwide | publisher=World Music Productions | date=2013-07-19 | accessdate=2013-08-16 | archive-date=2014-08-12 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812115013/http://www.afropop.org/wp/11642/caravan-pour-la-paix-brings-mali-desert-vibe-to-montreal/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> }}
==External links== * [https://myspace.com/Tartit Tartit] on [[Myspace]] * [http://www.crammed.be/index.php?id=34&art_id=125 Tartit] at [[Crammed Discs]] site
{{Authority control}} [[Category:Malian musical groups]] [[Category:Tuareg culture]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1992]] [[Category:Berber music]]