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Music and featured items

Timings are shown from the start of the programme in hours and minutes.

1. Chapter 1

   00:00
   

   Fishermen’s port in Mauritania.

   (08.36) Permalink

   Andy Kershaw introduced the programme at the fishermen’s port in Mauritania, a country on the western fringe of the Sahara Desert that is rarely visited by international tourists or businessmen.

2. Music Played

   1. 00:01
      

      Ooleya Mint Amartichitt — Bismillah (Andy talks over the music)

3. Chapter 2

   00:08
   

   Ooleya Mint Amartichitt.

   (04.23) Permalink

   Andy talks to nomad singer Ooleya Mint Amartichitt about life as a nomad in the desert, and how the nomads moved to the capital, Nouakchott.

4. Chapter 3

   00:13
   

   Ooleya Mint Amartichitt live.

   (04.56) Permalink

   Mauritani nomad singer Ooleya Mint Amartichitt live at the festival of nomad music with a band comprised of her family members.

5. Music Played

   1. 00:13
      

      Ooleya Mint Amartichitt — Chwey chewey

6. Chapter 4

   00:17
   

   Dramatic guitar-playing style.

   (07.00) Permalink

   Andy introduces the dramatic guitar-playing style unique to Mauritania. Guitar player Dey Amartichitt talks about this unique guitar style, imitating the traditional instrument Tidinit.

7. Music Played

   1. 00:18
      

      Dey Amartichitt — A guitar illustration

   2. 00:24
      

      Dey Amartichitt — A guitar illustration

   3. 00:25
      

      Ooleya Mint Amartichitt — Lawee lemama

8. Chapter 5

   00:32
   

   Interview with Benoit Thiebergien

   (09.20) Permalink

   Andy talks to Benoit Thiebergien, the director of the festival of nomad music about the festival’s mission and logistics and the importance of promoting the nomadic culture.

9. Chapter 6

   00:41
   

   Toutou Mint Dendenni.

   (04.35) Permalink

   Andy Kershaw introduces us to elderly singer Toutou Mint Dendenni who sings and plays the Ardin (MauritaniaN Kora), live at the festival of nomadic music in Mauritania.

10. Music Played

    1. 00:41
       

       Toutou Mint Dendenni — Unknown

11. Chapter 7

    00:46
    

    Nouakchott, Mauritania’s capital.

    (03.27) Permalink

    Andy Kershaw tells us the history of Nouakchott, Mauritania’s capital, and about the festival which takes place in different suburbs of the city.

12. Music Played

    1. 00:48
       

       Aslacus — Why do people scatter?

13. Chapter 8

    00:49
    

    Director of Aslacus interview.

    (03.28) Permalink

    Andy interviews the director of Aslacus, a group dedicated to preserving the culture and the Soninke language.

14. Music Played

    1. 00:51
       

       Aslacus — Legend of the serpent

15. Chapter 9

    00:53
    

    Med Salem Ould Meydahand.

    (08.40) Permalink

    Andy with one of Mauritania’s most famous singers, Med Salem Ould Meydahand his family members/ musicians from the South of Mauritania singing a religious song in the Medir style.

16. Music Played

    1. 00:54
       

       Med Salem Ould Meydah — Medir (the liege’s song)

17. Chapter 10

    00:57
    

    Mauritani music and the blues

    (08.39) Permalink

    Andy interviews Med Salem Ould Meydahand, “the James Brown of Mauritania” about the connection between Mauritani music and the blues. Med Salem Ould Meydahand’a sings a religious song called Miracle.

18. Music Played

    1. 01:01
       

       Med Salem Ould Meydah — Aytou Taha (miracle)

19. Chapter 11

    01:06
    

    Andy at a cassette shop.

    (10.58) Permalink

    Andy at a cassette shop in Nouakchott surprised to find out that Mauritania has no music industry or commercially recorded music.

20. Music Played

    1. 01:09
       

       Jam Min Tekki (hip hop) — Mare Hane

    2. 01:14
       

       Jam Min Tekke — Life Gang

21. Chapter 12

    01:16
    

    Nema Mint Chwaikh.

    (07.30) Permalink

    Andy out in what he calls a ‘hell hole”, a run-down desert dwelling just outside Nouakchott, to meet one of its inhabitants - great Mauritanian singer Nema Mint Chwaikh.

22. Music Played

    1. 01:17
       

       Nema Mint Chwaikh — Making for Myself

23. Chapter 13

    01:24
    

    Nema Mint Chwaikh interview.

    (08.07) Permalink

    Nema Mint Chwaikh talks to Andy Kershaw about the way she has changed and elevated Mauritanian music, influenced by great Egyptian singer Oum Kalthoum.

24. Music Played

    1. 01:28
       

       Nema Mint Chwaikh — Seyni (my husband rejoices)

25. Chapter 14

    01:32
    

    Aicha Mint Chigaly.concert.

    (12.53) Permalink

    Andy Kershaw driving around Nouakchott with the local BBC stringer, taking us to the concert of Aicha Mint Chigaly, on the last night of the festival of nomadic music.

26. Music Played

    1. 01:34
       

       Aicha Mint Chigaly — Sawini (Andy Kershaw talking over the music)

    2. 01:40
       

       Aicha Mint Chigaly — Salaam

Broadcasts

1. Sun 29 May 2005
   22:15
   BBC Radio 3
2. Sun 4 Jun 2006
   22:15
   BBC Radio 3