Tuareg guitarist and singer Omara “Bombino” Moctar—whose Nonesuch debut album, recorded with producer Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, is due out in early 2013—is raising money via Indiegogo to furnish a community rehearsal and performance studio in his hometown of Niamey, Niger. This will be a free, public rehearsal space both for young musicians to develop their craft and for Niamey's professional musicians to hone theirs. Following the end of the Second Tuareg Rebellion in 2008 (during which guitars were banned), the music scene in Niger has been blossoming. However, in Niamey, fully equipped rehearsal spaces are virtually non-existent and certainly not accessible to most musicians and would-be young musicians.

Bombino’s goal is to raise funds to purchase the following equipment for the space: a full drum kit, a PA system (two speakers, mixing board, cables), two guitar amps, a bass amp, and four microphones and cables. Due to the prohibitive shipping costs (and shipping time) associated with sending such items to Niger from abroad, monetary donations are being accepted to purchase this equipment in West Africa in lieu of having individual contributors mailing the items.

Donor thank-you gifts available at various contribution levels include an autographed photo of Bombino with his band, an autographed copy of Bombino's forthcoming Nonesuch album, concert tickets, naming of the rehearsal space, and a private acoustic performance by Bombino and his band.

For more information on the project and to contribute today, visit indiegogo.com.