Tidawt (playing the Highline Ballroom Sept 22 along with a screening of the film Amanei, Touareg Entre Dunes et Montagnes) is a compelling Tuareg guitar band from Niger in West Africa led by Hasso Akotey. Akotey and his bandmates came together as they fought in the 90s Tuareg rebellion in Niger. The New York unit of TIdawt is a stripped-down version of the band, just guitars and percussion, but very similar in style and intensity to, for example, Tinariwen, the Tuareg band that has toured extensively in the US. Tidawt recently finished recording a new cd Amawal (Tantrum Records) in California, to be released soonListen to their broadcast on WFMU here
