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Festival in the Desert featuring Ali Farka Toure, Tinariwen and Robert Plant

The much lauded 'Festival In The Desert 2003' was the first of two programmes to come from Mali and won the Sony Gold Award. The festival is held in an oasis in the southern Sahara Desert.

The much lauded 'Festival In The Desert 2003' was the first of two programmes to come from Mali. Winner of the Sony Gold Award the show includes music from Ali Farka Toura, Tinariwen, Robert Plant, Tartit and Afel Bocum. The festival itself is held in a nearby oasis in the southern Sahara Desert, and is the traditional gathering of the Touareg people, who sing powerfully hypnotic songs about the pain and pleasures of desert life.

Available now

1 hour, 15 minutes

Last on

Fri 17 Jan 2003 22:15

Music and featured items

  • Fishing on the Niger River.

    Andy starts the programme fishing on the southern bank of the Niger River.

    Duration: 05:13

  • Music Played

    • Tidawt

      Ariyalan

  • Camels in the desert.

    Andy has trouble moving around in the desert sand and encounters camels.

    Duration: 08:07

  • Music Played

    • Tartit

      Isisla

  • Festival in the Desert.

    Andy meets Andy Morgan from Festival in the Desert.

    Duration: 07:21

  • Music Played

    • Khaira Arby

      Assa Dakmar

  • Turages at Festival in the Desert.

    Andy describes an amazing scene in front of the stage at the Festival in the Desert.

    Duration: 09:43

  • Music Played

    • Khaira Arby

      Trab Matouk

  • Andy meets Robert Plant.

    Andy helps a man to re wire the back stage area and meets Robert Plant, who is performing.

    Duration: 10:19

  • Music Played

    • Robert Plant/Justin Adams/Lo-jo

      Whole lotta love

  • Paul Adams, a Tuareg fan

    Andy chats to Paul Adams, a Tuareg fan who travelled from Bristol to be at the festival.

    Duration: 04:30

  • Music Played

    • Tinariwen

      Hertenere

  • Tinariwen and Tuareg music.

    Andy talks to Hassan and Abdallah from Tinariwen who talk about Tuareg music.

    Duration: 06:15

  • Music Played

    • Tinariwen

      Amassakoul

  • Ali Farka Touré.

    We hear a brief song by Ali Farka Touré, an old friend of Andy’s.

    Duration: 08:35

  • Music Played

    • Ali Farka Touré

      song 1

    • Ali Farka Touré

      Kady Kady

  • ‘King of Desert Blues’

    ‘King of Desert Blues’ singer, Ali Farka Toure talks to Andy about the festival.

    Duration: 03:04

  • Music Played

    • Ali Farka

      Tangam Bara Soboye

  • Robert Plant and Ali Farka Touré.

    Andy listens to Robert Plant and Ali Farka Touré at a special fireside session.

    Duration: 10:36

  • Music Played

    • Ali Farka Touré, Justin Adams, Robert Plant

      Fireside session 1

    • Ali Farka Touré, Justin Adams, Robert Plant

      Fireside session 2

Broadcast

  • Fri 17 Jan 2003 22:15