Baaba Maal
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Baaba Maal is a Senegalese singer and guitarist born in Podor, on the Senegal River. He is perhaps the best known musician to come out of Senegal, and is a superstar in his home country. He plays acoustic guitar, percussion and sings. He has released several albums both for independant and major labels, and has received critical acclaim in the UK since the 1980s. He is also a UNDP Youth Emmissary.
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[edit] Biography
His father was a fisherman and, as such, Baaba Maal was expected to become a fisherman 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 on scholarship. He has become quite famous in Africa. He is the most internationally famous musician from Senegal, with the possible exception of Yossou N'Dour. Baaba is also the foremost promoter of the traditions of the Pulaar speaking peoples who live on either side of the Senegal River in the ancient Senegalese kingdom of Futa Tooro.
[edit] Music
After returning from study in Paris, Maal studied traditional music with his blind guitarist and family griot, Mansour Seck, and began performing with the band Daande Lenol. His Djam Leelii, recorded in 1984, became a critical sensation in the United Kingdom after it was released there in 1989. Maal's fusions continued into the next decade, with his Firin' in Fouta (1994) album, which used ragga, salsa and Breton harp music to create a popular sound that launched the careers of Positive Black Soul, a group of rappers, and also led to the formation of the Afro-Celt Sound System. His fusion tendencies continued on 1998's Nomad Soul, which featured Brian Eno as one of seven producers. In addition to his various solo releases, he was featured on two tracks "Bushes" and "Dunya Salam" on the concept album "1 Giant Leap". He has performed on the Later with Jools Holland show.
[edit] Discography
- 1989 – Djam Leelii (with Mansour Seck) – Mango Records
- 1991 – Baayo (with Mansour Seck) – Mango
- 1992 – Lam Toro – Mango
- 1994 – Wango – Syllart
- 1994 – Firin' in Fouta – Mango
- 1995 – Gorel – 4th & Broadway
- 1997 – Taara – Melodie
- 1998 – Nomad Soul – Import
- 1998 – Djam Leelii: The Adventurers – Yoff Productions
- 1999 – Live at the Royal Festival Hall – Palm Pictures – Palm
- 2000 – Jombaajo – Sonodisc
- 2001 – Missing You (Mi Yeewnii) – Palm
- 2003 – 'The Best of the Early Years – Wrasse (compilation)
- 2005 – Palm World Voices: Baaba Maal – Palm (compilation)
