Stani presents The Sahara: Festival In The Desert & Tinariwen

For three days in early January of 2003, camels and 4x4s converged upon an oasis in Essakane, Mali. They brought with them a curious collection of Tuareg nomads and local musicians, even groups from Europe and North America. The purpose: a dramatic festival celebrating music, culture, and reconciliation. Big-name Malian stars, including vocalist Oumou Sangaré and guitarist Ali Farka Touré, shared a common stage with lesser-known Tuareg groups like Tinariwen and Tartit.

This film includes performance footage of several groups, as well as the story of how the festival came to exist. There’s something about watching all those camels come in—and seeing congregations of people make spontaneous music outside their tents—that brings it all to glowing life. Not to mention interviews with musicians and coordinators alike, who all stress the importance of sharing geographical and musical space in harmony.