senegal | Musicosity

senegal

Youssou N'Dour

Youssou N'Dour (born 1 October 1959 in Dakar, Senegal) is a singer, percussionist and occasional actor. N'Dour is one of the most celebrated African musicians in history, his mix of traditional Senegalese mbalax with eclectic influences ranging from Cuban rumba to hip hop, jazz, and soul has won him an international fan base of millions. N'Dour was born in Medina in Dakar, Senegal, in 1959 and started his music career singing in small clubs in Dakar in the Wolof language, which is predominantly spoken in Senegal and Gambia.

Artist Type: 

Orchestra Baobab

Orchestre Baobab is a Senegalese band formed 1970 in Dakar, Senegal as a multi-ethnic, multi-national club band. Put together by saxophonist Baro N'Diaye, original members included singers Balla Sidibe, Rudy Gomis, and Laye Mboup; guitarists Barthelemy Attisso and Latfi Ben Geloune; bassist Charlie N’Diaye; drummer Mountaga Koite; and saxophonist Issa Cissokho. Ndiouga Dieng and Medoune Diallo sometimes sat in with the band, and personnel changed frequently. Later, singer Thione Seck and his younger brother Mapenda Seck joined the band.

Artist Type: 

Baaba Maal

Baaba Maal is a Senegalese singer and guitarist born in Podor, on the Senegal River. His father was a fieldhand and, as such, Baaba Maal was expected to become a fieldhand as well. However, Baaba Maal devoted himself to learning music from his mother and from his school's headmaster. He went on to study music at the university in Dakar before leaving for postgraduate studies on a scholarship at Beaux-Arts in Paris. He has become quite famous in Africa. He is the most internationally famous musician from Senegal, except perhaps Yossou N'Dour.

Artist Type: 

Cheikh Lo

Cheikh N'Digel Lô is a Senegalese musician. He was born in the town of Bobo Dioulasso in Burkina Faso. Lô began playing drums and singing at an early age. He joined Orchestre Volta Jazz, an ensemble which played Cuban and Congolese pop songs as well as traditional Burkina Faso music. Lô moved to Senegal in 1978, performing in several mbalax outfits. By 1985 Lô was playing guitar with numerous Côte d'Ivoire and French musicians, which lead him to record material in Paris in 1987.

Artist Type: 

Omar Pene

Omar Pene (born 1956 in Dakar) is the emblematic lead singer of the Super Diamono. He was born in the working class neighborhood of Derkle. In the mid seventies (1975-1976), he joined the Super Diamono, one of the longest running Senegalese popular bands- just. Recruited by Bailo Diagne, the first base-player and a founding member of the group, Omar Pene stood out as the most natural fixture in the band.

Artist Type: 

Daara J

Daara J (Pronounced Daa-raa Jee, which means "The School" in the Wolof language) are a Senegalese rap trio, consisting of N’Dango D, Aladji Man and Faada Freddy. Their music blends western hiphop with traditional African rhythms to create a great infectionsly dancy style. In their last album, Boomrang, they were joined by guests including Rokia Traore, who is one of the leading women in Malian music.

Artist Type: 

Nuru Kane

Nuru comes from Dakar, Senegal and his music is influenced by all the sounds of West Africa, the blues and gnawa, the trance music of the north African countries of Morocco and Algeria. Nuru's main instrument is the guimbri, a three stringed acoustic bass, central to the Gnawa sound. In concert Nuru fronts Bayefall Gnawa a six piece band with musicians from Senegal, France, Algeria and Morocco.

Artist Type: