Bombino makes his way to SF, charms sold-out Indy

Bombino //
The Independent – San Francisco
May 13th, 2015 //

Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Omara Moctar, best known by his nickname/stage name Bombino, offered a mesmerizing performance at The Independent last Wednesday. In front of a sold-out crowd, the 35-year-old Tuareg musician got the audience dancing to the beat of his best repertoire. With four albums under his belt between 2009’s Group Bombino – Guitars from Agadez, vol. 2, 2010’s Agamgam 2004, 2011’s Agadez and 2013’s Nomad, the show really boosted some fine tunes.

For those who don’t know Bombino, his story is quite fascinating. Born in Agadez, Niger, he had to flee the country at the age of 10 with his father and grandmother following conflicts related to the Tuareg Rebellion in 1990. It is during this time that he discovered the guitar, which he pretty much taught himself how to play. As a teenager living in Algeria and Libya, Bombino would spend hours with his friends watching videos of Jimi Hendrix and other guitar legends to study their style and technique. All this video-watching and practicing eventually led him to forge his own voice, one that he will continue to showcase this summer across Europe and the U.S.