FEBRUARY 9 “THIS WEEK IN THE MUSIC OF NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE”

On this date in 2009, a number of musicians from the nomadic Toureg tribes performed in a world-renowned group called “Tinariwen.” The musicians, most former rebels trained by Qaddafi in Libya, lay down their arms in 1991 following a peace agreement and have since used music to call attention to the struggles of their people–which include drought and civil war.

Tinariwen recently won a Grammy award in 2012 and has played alongside musicians such as Herbie Hancock.

AllMusic deems the group’s music “a grassroots voice of rebellion.”

Listen to the 2009 concert here.