Contemporary Music of Senegal

During in the 90s, Thione Seck, a griot derived from those of Lat Dior, the king of Kayor, emerged to solo celebrity from Baobab, finally creating his own band known as Raam Daan (crawl slowly towards your goal). He used the electric instruments on many renowned releases, particularly the Diongoma and Demb. The same year saw emerge of Ismael Lo, a member of Super Diamono, who had major albums which include Attaya, Ceddo and Jele bi.

source of picture: eng.hotjazz.co.il 

Baaba Maal is another famous Senegalese singer. He is Podor and he won a scholarship to study music in Paris and after he came back, he studied traditional music with his blind guitarist and family griot known as Mansour Seck and started performing with the ensemble Daande Lenol. His Djam Leelii, which was recorded in the year 1984, became a critical sensation in the United Kingdom after the released in the year 1989. Maal’s combinations continued into the next year, with his Firin’ in Fouta in the year 1994, which he used the reggae, Breton harp and salsa music to form a renowned beat that launched the professions of positive Black Soul, a group of rappers that also led to the creation of the Afro-Celt Sound System. His combination propensities continued on 1988s Nomad Soul, which he featured Brain Eno as one of the seven producers.

However female musicians were attaining famous innovations outside in West Africa, particularly in Mali, Senegalese women had few chances before the 90s. The first international music released by woman was known as Cheikh Anta Mbacke in the year 1989 by Kine Lam. The song’s achievement led to cord of female musicians, which include Fatou Guewel, Mbaye Madiaga, Daro Mbaye and Madiodio Gning. Lam, though, remained possibly the very powerful female artist of the 90s; forming an improved version of sabar ak xalam bands by putting bass guitar and synthesizer with 1993s Sunu Thiossane. The release of Fatou Guewel’s CD entitled Fatou in the year 1998 which was significantly powerful for Mbalax; it is also the situation with her ensemble known as Groupe Sope Noreyni.

The current century has seen emerge of Vivian Ndour, who got her first success as a backing vocalist to Youssou Ndour with Super Etoile. She is popular in Senegal and in the diaspora too, cooperating with the French rap artist like Mokobe and zouk musician like Philip Monetiero and joining RnB, hip hop and other rudiments into her own pattern of Mbalax.

Acoustic traditional music has also left its mark on Senegal’s music culture. Musicians have supported this genre and they include TAMA from Rufisque, Pape Armand Boye, less Feres Guisse, Cheihk Lo, and Pape et Cheikh.

The biggest movement in the 90s Senegal, however, was the hip hop. Folk culture includes rapping customs, such as the official tassou, which is performed by women of the Laobe woodworking rank that are morning after marriages.

The current Senegalese hip hop is extremely in Wolof, together with some English and French. Positive Black Soul is the well-known orchestra in the country, Daaraj and Gokh-Bi System too. Senegalese-French rapper known as MC Solaar is a very popular artist and the Senegalese born Akon has emerged to the world popularity.

In the year 2008 English artist known as Ramon Goose toured to Dakar and joined with the Senegalese artist known as griot Diabel Cissokho to record the album known as Mansana Blues which explores African blues and folk West African patterns, this led on to the creation of the West African Blues Project.