Tishoumaren emerged in 1970s Mali, Niger, and Algeria among Tuareg youth, meaning 'guitar' in Tamashek language. The genre fuses traditional Tuareg melodies with heavily distorted electric guitar, blues, and rock influences, featuring distinctive 6/8 rhythms and pentatonic scales. Pioneered by Ibrahim Ag Alhabib of Tinariwen and Ali Farka Touré, Tishoumaren expresses political struggle, exile, and cultural identity for marginalized communities.
