Mdou Moctar have announced a new album called Funeral for Justice. The follow-up to the Nigerien quartet’s 2019 breakout Afrique Victime arrives May 3 via Matador. Check out a video for the lead single and title track below, and scroll down for the album cover, tracklist, and the band’s upcoming tour dates.
“This album is really different for me,” Moctar, the band’s singer, namesake, and guitarist, said in a press release. “Now the problems of terrorist violence are more serious in Africa. When the US and Europe came here, they said they’re going to help us, but what we see is really different. They never help us to find a solution.”
“Mdou Moctar has been a strong anti-colonial band ever since I’ve been a part of it,” commented producer and bassist Mikey Coltun, who has been playing with Moctar since 2017. “France came in, fucked up the country, then said ‘you’re free.’ And they’re not.”
“Ilana was the gateway album, saying that this is a raw rock band. And Afrique Victime was a summation of that vision,” added Coltun, who recorded the new LP over five days in a mostly unfurnished house in upstate New York. “With Funeral for Justice, I really wanted this to shine with the political message because of everything that’s going on. As the band got tighter and heavier live, it made sense to capture this urgency and this aggression – it wasn’t a forced thing, it was very natural.”
In 2022, Moctar released the Niger EPs Vol. 1 & 2.
Funeral for Justice Cover Artwork:
Funeral for Justice Tracklist:
1. Funeral For Justice
2. Imouhar
3. Takoba
4. Sousoume
5. Imagerhan
6. Tchinta
7. Djallo #1
8. Oh France
9. Modern Slaves
Mdou Moctar 2024 Tour Dates:
Apr 14 – Indio, CA – Coachella Music and Arts Festival
Apr 21 – Indio, CA – Coachella Music and Arts Festival
Jun 5 – Atlantic City, NJ – Anchor Rock Club
Jun 6 – Harrisburg, PA – The Abbey Bar at ABC
Jun 7 – Richmond, VA – Cheers Brown’s Island
Jun 8 – Saxapahaw, NC – Haw River Ballroom
Jun 9 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
Jun 11 – Charleston, SC – Pour House
Jun 12 – Birmingham, AL – Saturn
Jun 13 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West
Jun 14 – Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo
Jun 15 – Indianapolis, IN – The Hi-Fi
Jun 18 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
Jun 19 – Detroit, MI – Magic Bag
Jun 20 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
Jun 21 – Buffalo, NY – Asbury Hall
Jun 22 – Greenfield, MA – Green River Music Festival
Jun 23 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
Jun 26 – Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw
Jun 27 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
Jun 28 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
