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The music of Senegal was made world famous by Youssou N'Dour, but others,
such as Baaba Maal, and Ismael Lô, have gained international
acclaim on Western markets too. On the African continent, everybody knows Senegalese music
for its energy, although only the Senegalese can dance the "ventilateur"...
Senegalese music was heavily influenced by Latin music until well into the 1980s.
Bands like the Star Band, Orchestre No.1, and
Etoile de Dakar all started playing latin music. Even now, Africando
is internationally successful with latin flavoured music, and many of its members were formerly part of these earlier bands.
Relatively late compared to surrounding countries, Senegalese musicians searched to use traditional Senegalese
rhythms in popular music. By then, the mbalax sound has gained importance, mainly through
Youssou N'Dour but also Thione Seck, Ismael Lô,
and Super Diamono, but Gambian neighbour Ifang Bondi had a pioneering
role in this quest for using local elements in modern Senegalese music.
Although the music scene is traditionally dominated by the wolof people with the mbalax rhythm,
Baaba Maal was the first to break through this hegemony. Maal, of toucouleur
origin, has become very popular with his yela music.
Bands like Toure Kunda play a softer, more accessible music, with influences from the
Casamance region and from neighbouring countries like Guinee-Bissau. They sold 100,000s of LPs
in France during the 1980s. If you prefer acoustic recordings, try the rootsy music of
Pascal Diatta and Sona Mané, the folk oriented music of Diogal Sakho
or Metzo Djatah or the acoustic recordings of Baaba Maal (album Djam Leelii).
It will change your life...
Since the 1990s, rap and hiphop has become very popular, but since long before, a traditional form of rap
existed in Senegal, the Tassou. At the same time, the mbalax music has developed into
a new generation by younger musicians, the Boul Falé (=don't care). These constant
dynamics of the musical landscape in Senegal show that the Senegalese musical and cultural
identity is very strong, and although Western music has a considerable impact, this identity will
remain strong.
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Official name: République du Sénégal |
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Region: West Africa |
| Capital: |
Dakar |
| Official language: |
French |
| Main ethnic groups: |
Wolof, Serer, Tukulor, Lebu, Jola, Soninke, Mandinka, Maures |
Flags courtesy of ITA's
Flags of All Countries used with permission.
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