An exhilarating desert blues singer/songwriter who pushes the boundaries of the genre, Mdou Moctar and his trio have shaped an unconventional style that has won them worldwide accolades. The evening opens with a screening of the now cult film Akounak Tedalat Taha Tazoughai, a Saharan homage to Prince’s Purple Rain. Starring Moctar (with purple guitar strapped to his back as he rides through the desert on his motorcycle), the movie is a testament to Prince’s global influence and the universal nature of a vanguard musician fighting for his place in the sun.
The film begins at 7 pm, followed by music at 8:30 pm.
The title of Mdou Moctar's film, Akounak Tedalat Taha Tazoughai, translates to “Rain the Color of Blue with a Little Red in It," and it takes its inspiration from North Minneapolis native Prince Rogers Nelson. But as Moctar's recent screening/performance at the Cedar attests, language wasn’t a barrier between Prince and the Tuareg guitarist. Writes Maryama Dhair: "Music is a universal language that spans across culture, creating connections along the way."
