Interview with Sanou from Terakaft about their new album "Alone"

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• published: 23 Apr 2015
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Sanou, leadsinger from Terakaft talking to Jay Rutledge about their new Album „Alone“. read the full interview on www.outhere.de: 5) You have recorded 5 albums to date. Many of the songs comment on the situation in your homecountry Mali. Could you tell us how your message changed from album to album? Our songs are talking about where we come from, how we live, some are about animals, some about love and others about war or social problems, our message is to witness what we see today. I am not sure it has changed. In our words you will find no political statement, because we wonder where is the way for Tuareg people. We just witness what we see and feel. And we hope something will come through one day. I don't know what. I don't know when. 6) Mali has seen an ongoing crisis in the last years? From your perspective how did you feel about what went on? Could you start at the moment when Lybia collapsed after Ghadaffi was killed. For me, war in Lybia came suddenly and became a heavy moment. Many Tuaregs from North-Mali had brothers or cousins in South-Lybia, who were supporting a lot their families in Mali by sending money for example. It was a bad surprise to see that maybe our main support since two decades was failing. You know, I am only a musician, and I react mostly like the people who cannot always understand what is happening. Later on, the Islamists who seemed to take the power in North-Mali, began to forbid music and many other things. Another very bad surprise. How should we be able to live without music ? It is such a great thing for all of us. Music is pure life in the desert. Music is like freedom. 7) Did you have high hopes when the MNLA declared a state of Azawad? What happend afterward? I didn't really hear about it. What I saw was the war coming between North and South-mali. And after that, many terrorists came to North-Mali. We could watch the situation, but what could we understand really ? 8) Where did the Islamists come from? Who are they? Why did they come? What needs to be done about them? They came from neighbouring countries. Maybe they were already nearby for some of them. Some were from East Africa. I don't know what we can do about it, I do not understand exactly why they came. But they cannot change our lives like that. 9) The new record is called Alone, what does the title symbolize for you? What are you trying to bring across? Does it – symbolically or directly – talk about the state of Mali? The real title that Diara gave to this new album is „Ténéré“. Diara explained that in this case, Ténéré was meaning „Alone“. Alone for all reasons I suppose. Because things are never like we expect them to be. And we do not know what will come after. Maybe Diara also means that the Tuaregs have been let Alone with their problems in the North-Mali. 10) Could you talk about the different songs? Some like f.e. Karambani or Itilla ihene Dagg … seem to talk about things going on that annoy you. What do you see happening at the moment and what are you adressing in your songs? In „Karambani“, I am talking to the all world, not only to Tuareg people. Because now that I travel, I know it is a little bit the same everywhere in the world, liars are everywhere. And in the end, because this, the people never gets anything, except suffering. This is nastiness. „Itilla ihene dagh aïtma“ is different. Diara is talking directly to Tuareg people, probably to the leaders. 11) What does the country need now? Peace. Development in North-Mali to bring jobs. Schools. Why is this not possible? 12) How do you feel when you go to Bamako to apply for a visa? Are you comfortable? Last month was my first time in Bko since 4 years ago. I felt the same than before, I was very happy to meet old friends there. Yes I felt comfortable because I have many friends in Bamako. But we didn't get out so much. 13) You come from a different generation as Diara – like he grew up as an Ishumar - do your perspectives on what is going on differ? Diara is older than me. He is very experienced and he advices me. I listen to him. 14) What do you want people in the rest of the world to know about Terakaft? What does the band stand for? We want the world to listen to our music and to dance with us. We wish that they understand our words and get the feeling that they understand who the Tuaregs are. Because we are proud of our culture. Terakaft stands to share it with the world. Interview by Jay Rutledge for Outhere Records, April 2015