From 2001 until 2009 the festival was held in Essakane but because of security issues, from 2010 the festival has been held on the outskirts of Timbuktu.
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The documentary Dambé: The Mali Project tells the story of a cross-cultural musical adventure over 3000 miles by two Irish musicians, that features performances from the Festival au désert.
Combining his two long-standing interests of music and travel in Africa, he attended the Festival au Désert at Essakane in Mali in 2008.
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The 2008 documentary Dambé: The Mali Project tells the story of his 3000 mile cross-cultural musical adventure with Liam Ó Maonlaí (Hothouse Flowers) and friends, and features performances from the Festival au Désert.