Guitarist Mdou Moctar shared the single, “Ibitlan.” The song comes from the sessions for Moctar’s 2019 album, Ilana: The Creator, which arrived in March 2019 via Sahel Sounds.
Hailing from a remote region in central Niger, much of the subject matter on Ilana: The Creator focused on post-colonial life in the African nation. “Ibitlan,” however, deals more in romantic matters.
“It’s like when there’s a valley, with a stream running through it, and all the plants are green, the song is about how my girlfriend is beautiful like that,” Moctar said in a statement. “Her skin is like a yellow flower, and her smile is like lightning.”
Listen to “Ibitlan” below:
