Here's A First Listen of Bombino's New Tuareg Blues Album 'Deran'

Nigerien guitarist and singer-songwriterBombino's upcoming album, Deran, is a trip through the Sahara desert of North Africa to the vibrant, warm, and lively regions of the Tuareg people.

On his latest album, Bombino continues to sing about the Tuareg people and their history. With the strum of his guitar, he awakens the senses by recreating the smell of spices and lively sounds of Tuareg markets, while manifesting revolutionary spirit of his people. The best part is: you don't need to speak Tamashek to experience it.

It is impossible to enjoy Bombino's music without appreciating the way he sticks to his roots.

With titles like "Imajghane" (The Tuareg People), "Oulhin" (My Heart Burns), and "Tamasheq" (The Tuareg language), Bombino dives back into the memories of his upbringing and sings about the times of unity and strife between Tuareg tribes while ultimately wishing for peace in the region. As stated by Bambino, "With all the travels, all the experience of world, it's as if I'm making myself remember where I come from. Where I come from will always be my home, my memory."

Deran is a much needed album for anyone to enjoy. You can obtain the album May 18. In the meantime, get a first listen from NPR here.

Listen to Bombino's upcoming album, Deran, in full via NPR.