Etran de l’Aïr

Etran de l’Aïr is a rock band from the Agadez Desert in Niger that formed in 1995. The band’s name means “the stars of L’Aïr.” L’Aïr is a major mountain range bordering the city of Agadez, which is located between the Sahara Desert and the Sahel. The band consists of Moussa Ibrahim, Abdourahamane Ibrahim, Abdoulaye Ibrahim, and Alghabid Ghabdouan. The first three are brothers.

The group initially earned a living by playing at weddings, a circuit that is quite lucrative for bands. Then, in 2018—23 years after its formation—the group released its first album, No. 1, on the Sahel Sounds label, an American record label founded by Christopher Kirkley.