Born and raised in Niger, in and around the northern city of Agadez, Bombino is a member of the Tuareg Ifoghas tribe, a nomadic people descended from the Berbers of North Africa. He studied with the renowned Tuareg guitarist Haja Bebe, who asked him to join his band, where he acquired the nickname Bombino - a variation on the Italian word for 'little child'.
Before 2009, Bombino was little known outside Saharan Africa. But in the last few years, he has begun to find a following abroad. He has sold out venues across Europe and the US, and has garnered the praise of outlets ranging from Pitchfork to NPR's Fresh Air, whose critic Milo Miles called Bombino 'A young performer with the charisma and probing imagination to become the first Tuareg star.'
At the invitation of The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach, the Niger-born artist and his band travelled to Nashville for the recording, helmed by Auerbach at his studio, Easy Eye Sound. Bombino recorded 'Nomad' with Auerbach, which will be released by Nonesuch Records on April 1st 2013.