The band Imarhan formed around 20 years ago when a group of friends decided to start making music together. This sense of unity is reflected in the band's name, which translates as 'those who are close to my heart'.
All of the band members were born in Tamanrasset, a city in southern Algeria where the Tuareg community from northern Mali, known as the Kel Tamashek, ended their exile in the early 1990s after enduring numerous conflicts since the 1960s. The band's sound reflects their cultural and generational background, combining dry guitar riffs, pop melodies and pan-African rhythms inspired by traditional Tuareg music, African ballads and the modern pop and rock they grew up with.
Thanks to their critically acclaimed albums, Imarhan have become a symbol of the new Tuareg generation, bringing a breath of fresh air to desert blues. They celebrate the stories of today's Kel Tamashek people and create a rare symbiosis of old and new by channelling this rich and diverse wave of musical influences. The band continues on this path with their latest album, Essam, released on 15 January 2026. At Moods, they will showcase the timeless treasures of Tamasheq music with a vibrant new energy.
