The Endless Journey will be shown at Womex 2012 in Thessaloniki, Greece, 20 October at 17:35-18:15 Helexpo. 

Etran Finatawa, Mamane Barka and Oumarou Adamou embarked on a road trip across Niger to promote Niger's music. 

The Endless Journey is a multi arts spectacle of four celebrated musicians from Niger in collaboration with internationally acclaimed photographer and film-maker Jean Molitor to convey an aural and visual understanding of the importance of Nigerien cultural heritage. The project began after the musicians started to tour worldwide in two different ensembles Mamane Barka and Etran Finatawa. Both these groups have released albums on World Music Network labels.

When these musicians returned to Niger they were shocked to find that the younger generation had turned their backs towards traditional music. They decided to go on a road trip across Niger to promote Niger’s music. Jean Molitor created a documentary of the cultural activists’ journey ‘The Rolling Lesson’ in which social and political issues related to music are explored from a different angle. The Endless Journey is a powerful and emotive live experience.

Click here for more information on IMZ World Music Films Screenings at Womex 2012.

Etran FinatawaIntroducing Etran Finatawa
Etran Finatawa combine the rich nomadic cultures of the Tuareg and Wodaabe people from the West African country of Niger – a region that for thousands of years has served as a crossroads between the Arabs of North Africa and the sub-Saharan traditions. Etran Finatawa blend traditional instruments with electric guitars, combining the polyphonic songs of the Wodaabe people with modern arrangements, transporting you to the Sahara with their evocative sound.

LISTEN/ BUY THE ALBUM

Here is a trailer for The Endless Journey: The musicians' intentions was to inspire the children to value their cultural heritage by meeting musicians who have travelled and performed their traditional music worldwide. Keeping culture alive in times of globalisation means that people should look with one eye into the past and with the other, ahead in the future. For the musicians it is clear that culture and traditions must have a place in modern society. 

Click here for more information on IMZ World Music Films Screenings at Womex 2012.