Who doesn’t know Othman Bali, the famous Tindi singer, died two years ago in a flood in his native town Djanet? In this town, we met his eldest son, a singer too, who accepted kindly to answer our questions. Here is the full interview:

Certainly, the public knows a lot about your late father, Osman Bali, but nothing about you. So, would you introduce yourself, please?

I am Nabil Bali, the eldest son of the late “Tindi” King, Osman Bali, the famous Targui singer. I came in the world of art and music at the age of 13, thanks to my father. The classical guitar was the first instrument I handled; I sat in a corner of our house and started playing. I did it quite well. Since then, I’ve never stopped playing and composing.

And this is what led your late father to adding you to the choir, isn’t it?

Yes, I took part in my father’s band, where I was initially playing “derbuka” (drum). Since that time, I did not leave him; I had been his eternal shadow during festivals and concerts until he left us. To your knowledge, all of the musicians and the dancers that make up my father’s band were from our large family; we are all artists, thank God ·

Don’t you think that continuing on the path of the father is difficult given the position he reached locally and globally?

I know that, but I have no another choice. After his death two years ago, I did not find any other means to honour him but carrying his torch and rush forward in the world. My first experience in singing “Tindi” and in playing the lute was in the capital, in the Oval Hall. As I succeeded in pleasing the public, I decided to strive so as to preserve the name of my father high in the sky of “Tindi” song.

And what did he leave to you as an aid so as to be able to take up the challenge?

My father left me a great legacy; I am not talking about money and real estate, but about the true treasure: 234 poems. Poems composed by my grandmother. I will sing them in the future in some European countries and before that in Australia.

And why this continent in particular?

Because despite my father’s numerous travels across the world, he did not accomplish his trip in the land of the globe by visiting the Australian continent. Therefore I decided to start my tour from there to achieve my father’s will.

How will you transmit the “Tindi” message to the Australians and others?

I sing in Tamaeqq (Touareg Berber idiom), French, Arabic, and even in English, as my father who was doing so in five languages.
Source: Al-Khabar - May 16th, 2007
By: Samer Riadh
Translated from Arabic by: D.Messaoudi