Moctar, Mdou
Ibitlan
2020 release, not available earlier here. Recorded at the same sessions as Mdou's album 'Ilana: The Creator,' 'Ibitlan' has been a staple of Mdou's band's live shows over the past years, sometimes being played at lengths of 10+ minutes! Whereas 'Ilana: The Creator's lyrical content often focused on life in postcolonial Niger, 'Ibitlan' is more focused on matters of the heart. When describing the song, Mdou said, "It's like when there's a valley, with a stream running through it, and all the plants are green, the song is about how my girlfriend is beautiful like that. Her skin is like a yellow flower, and her smile is like lightning." Mdou Moctar hails from a small village in central Niger in a remote region steeped in religious tradition. Growing up in an area where secular music was all but prohibited, he taught himself to play on a homemade guitar cobbled together out of wood. It was years before he found a "real" guitar and taught himself to play in secret. He immediately became a star amongst the village youth. In a surprising turn, his songs began to win over local religious leaders with their lyrics of respect, honor, and tradition.