Mdou Moctar

Latest Updates

Mdou Moctar playing his left-handed Fender Strat at Coachella 2024

“Us guitar players in the West, we all have the same base vocabulary, the same handful of stereotypical licks. But Mdou’s music, it’s almost free of that stuff”: Mdou Moctar finds a new fan in Metallica’s Kirk Hammett

By Janelle Borg published

The Tuareg guitarist’s latest album continues to expand the horizons of contemporary rock

St. Vincent performs onstage at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California on December 16, 2022

“This song presents a kind of revisionist history where guitar solos were cool after all in the early noughties”: February 2024 Guitar World editors' picks

By Michael Astley-Brown published

From neoclassical tapping clinics to cosmic, spaghetti western-esque guitar soundscapes, this month has provided an embarrassment of six-string riches

Mdou Moctar

“Nothing is held back or toned down”: Mdou Moctar has announced a new album that will be “louder, faster, and more wild” than anything before it – hear the electrifying title track, Funeral For Justice

By Phil Weller published

'The Hendrix of the Sahara' is using his music to shine a light on the political turmoil of his homeland, with the band set to tour the US in June

Mdou Moctar - the guitarist is stranded in the US and appealing for help in covering costs

“The band is stuck in the United States indefinitely”: Mdou Moctar are stranded in the US following a coup in Niger – and need your help raising funds

By Matt Parker published

The band has three members from Niger, including Moctar himself, and are facing mounting travel and accommodation costs due to their enforced stay

Richard Fortus, Mdou Moctar and Gina Gleason

Watch Mdou Moctar shred with Gina Gleason, Richard Fortus, Marc Ribot and Lee Ranaldo in the first ever D’Addario Extended Play jam

By Matt Owen published

The "Hendrix of the Sahara" shared the stage with special guests to perform tracks from his dazzling 2021 album, Afrique Victime

Madison Cunningham performs onstage at Harry Styles "Harryween" Fancy Dress Party at Madison Square Garden on October 30, 2021 in New York City.

From John Mayer-approved folk-pop to returning mathcore fury: here are this week's essential guitar tracks

By Michael Astley-Brown, Sam Roche, Matt Owen published

Must-hear new tracks from Madison Cunningham, Botch, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mdou Moctar, LØLØ and oh so many more

Mdou Moctar

Mdou Moctar shares unreleased 13-minute guitar jam in new 6-track collection, Niger EP Vol. 1

By Matt Owen published

The offering, which also contains tracks recorded at “weddings, picnics and impromptu house concerts”, is available to stream now

Momma

From fuzz re-awakenings to blistering desert blues: here are this week's essential guitar tracks

By Michael Astley-Brown published

Close out February on a high note with searing new guitar-heavy offerings from The Afghan Whigs, Mdou Moctar, Momma, Stray From the Path, Ghost Hounds, Corey Taylor, and more

Mikey Coltun (left) and Mdou Moctar perform on the Hydro Quebec stage at Place D'Youville during Day 4 of the 52nd Festival D'été Quebec on July 7, 2019 in Quebec City, Canada

Mdou Moctar breaks out the wah for sizzling new song, Nakanegh Dich

By Jackson Maxwell published

The previously unreleased studio outtake is set to appear on the forthcoming deluxe digital edition of Moctar's 2021 album, Afrique Victime

Mdou Moctar

Mdou Moctar demonstrates why he’s one of today’s most exhilarating guitarists in new Fender Sessions set

By Matt Owen published

The sensational performance might just be the Tuareg guitarist's best yet, offering up a blinding array of his fierce six-string skills

Mdou Moctar

Watch Mdou Moctar‘s stripped-down 30-minute Boiler Room session – complete with improvised solo

By Matt Parker published

The word-class guitarist played a distinctive set that closes with a stunning solo workout

Mdou Moctar and his band perform on the banks of the Niger river

Watch Mdou Moctar play a stunning early morning set on the banks of the Niger River

By Jackson Maxwell published

With his band in tow, Moctar runs through four standout cuts from Afrique Victime, as the sun rises behind him

Mdou Moctar performs live in Niamey, Niger with his band

Mdou Moctar proves why he's one of today's most exhilarating guitar virtuosos with electrifying Niamey, Niger performance

By Jackson Maxwell published

See the guitar wizard tear through a 45-minute set of Afrique Victime stunners and more

Mdou Moctar Tiny Desk performance

Watch Mdou Moctar’s intimately epic Tiny Desk concert

By Matt Owen published

The Tuareg guitarist pulled out all the stops during the three-song set, serving up a series of intricately crafted melodies and exquisite fingerpicking passages

Tom DeLonge of Angels and Airwaves performs onstage during KROQ Absolut Almost Acoustic Christmas 2019 at Honda Center on December 7, 2019 in Anaheim, California.

From dreamy psychedelic opuses to twisty, rapid-fire metal: here are this week's essential guitar tracks

By Michael Astley-Brown, Jackson Maxwell, Sam Roche, Matt Owen published

Unwind with fresh material from St. Vincent, Fear Factory, Quinn Sullivan, Mdou Moctar, Angels & Airwaves, and many more

Mdou Moctar

Mdou Moctar: “I really like the Stratocaster sound. Whatever tone I need, I can have it in that guitar”

By Jonathan Horsley published

Strat in hand, the Nigerien phenom is taking Tuareg guitar music global and putting an electric twist on traditional arrangements

Mdou Moctar

Mdou Moctar unleashes epic title track from upcoming album, Afrique Victime

By Matt Owen published

The Tuareg guitarist's new single serves up swaggering guitar lines and showcases his trademark style of intricately crafted melodies

Aziya

From dream-pop magic to the next big name in power-metal: here are this week's essential guitar tracks

By Michael Astley-Brown, Jackson Maxwell, Matt Owen, Sam Roche published

Usher in those warmer temperatures with a hot collection of guitar-heavy tunes from Mdou Moctar, Aziya, BRIDEAR, Horace Bray, St. Vincent, and more…

Mdou Moctar performs on the Hydro Quebec stage at Place D'Youville during Day 4 of the 52nd Festival D'été Quebec (FEQ2019) on July 7, 2019 in Quebec City, Canada.

Niger-based guitarist Mdou Moctar channels "Tuareg melodies and Eddie Van Halen" on new album Afrique Victime

By Richard Bienstock published

Listen to new single, Tala Tannam, now