Mafelawen EP by Mohamed Alassane Karzo

Mohamed Alassane Karzo, one of the Tuareg guitar scene's most influential and overlooked singer-songwriters, presents an official release of two of his two most popular tracks, “Mafelawen” and “C’est La Vie”, recorded on location in Niger in 2012.

Though little known outside of Niger, Karzo (sometimes called “Mohamed Petit") is most famous for the songs he composed in the early 2000s in Agadez. Karzo’s compositions stand out for their full chord progressions, an anomaly in the repertoire, and his strong vocal accompaniment - with lyrics that speak to social cohesion, cultural preservation, and overcoming personal struggles - the hallmark of the singer-songwriter. While Western audiences are more familiar with the high energy electric guitar of wedding music, there’s another mellower side of Agadez folklore - the “fada”, or informal neighborhood gatherings where the youth pass time over tea and musicians play songs for their friends. It is here that Karzo found his prominence.

‘’The first time I heard Karzo was in 2012, playing in a small house in Niamey. He didn't have an amplifier, and instead plugged his guitar directly into one of those five disc CD stereos from the early 2000s, and to balance the sound we moved it to another room, creating this ghostly reverb. It seemed to fit, as there's something about his music that sounded a little bit melancholy. What struck me about his compositions were primarily his chord structures, and the way he can sing and hold a note, his voice just hanging there, steady and unflinching’’, says Christopher Kirkley.

Karzo came up during a time before home studios had arrived and internet access was rare. His songs were shared informally, through lo-fi bluetooth transfers on cellphones. This way, his work gradually became part of the folk repertoire, played by Tuareg youth throughout the North country and shaping a generation from the underground. His name often draws a quiet shake of the head from fellow musicians in Agadez: “He should be more well-known.” “It’s a shame more people don’t know about him.” But ask anyone in the city, and they’ll reaffirm the enduring legacy of Karzo. Just drop by a “fada”. If there's a guitar nearby, there's a good chance you'll hear one of his songs.

While it’s common in Tuareg music culture for artists to play each other’s songs, Mafelawen was lifted outright - its lyrics changed, its authorship erased, and released on a major label, while silencing the voice of an African songwriter. As Karzo might say, in the words of another of his songs, “C’est La Vie”.

The two tracks were recorded in 2012 - “Mafelawene” by Kirkley in Niamey and “C’est La Vie” by Karzo, on a cellphone.

Mohamed Alassane Karzo, one of the Tuareg guitar scene's most influential and overlooked singer-songwriters.