Mdou Moctar just wrapped up their North American tour, which included appearances at Pitchfork, the Newport Folk Festival, and NYC’s SummerStage. Their stay has been extended, not by their own hand but due to the violent military coup in Mdou’s home country of Niger. A GoFundMe for the band has been launched to help cover expenses while they are stuck here “indefinitely.”
Via the GoFundMe: “On July 26, the band Mdou Moctar’s home country of Niger was thrown into chaos and uncertainty when a right-wing group of militants violently overthrew the democratically elected president of the nation. At the time of this coup, Mahamadou Souleymane, Ahmoudou Madassane, and Souleymane Ibrahim, the three Nigerien members of Mdou Moctar, were on tour in North America. As a result of the dangerous political climate, the three are unable to return to their homes and families. Borders in and out of the country have been closed, along with financial institutions, and foreign nationals have left the country on emergency flights, in fear of an imminent civil war.”
It continues: “At present, the band is stuck in the United States indefinitely. The costs associated with finding emergency housing and living expenses for the band while they are stuck here in the US are considerable as well as undefined, as there is no timeframe for when peace may return to the region. As the band’s touring activity regularly supports their families at home in Niger, this extended stay in the US will, unfortunately, divert that income away from their dependents.”
As for the GoFundMe, it is “being set up to help provide them with what they will need to be able to safely spend time in the States while they wait and see when they will be able to return home to Niger to reunite with their loved ones. Any donations will be used directly to secure housing, food, healthcare, travel, and any other necessities in America that will be needed while they navigate this unexpected and unprecedented time.”
You can donate to the Mdou Moctar GoFundMe here.
