Baaba Maal (born November 12, 1953) is a Senegalese singer and guitarist born in Podor, on the Senegal River. In addition to acoustic guitar, he also plays percussion. He has released several albums, both for independent and major labels. In July 2003, he was made a UNDP Youth Emissary.

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Biography

Born 12 November 1953. Since his father was a fisherman, Baaba Maal was expected to become a fisherman as well. However, under the influence of his life long friend Mansour Seck, Baaba Maal devoted himself to learning music from his mother and 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 and is also the most internationally famous musician from Senegal, with the possible exception of Youssou N'Dour.

Baaba sings primarily in Pulaar ^[1] and is 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.

On 7 July, 2007 Maal performed at the South African leg of Live Earth.

Baaba Maal's album On The Road, a live acoustic album recorded straight from the mixing boards of his shows over the last ten years, was released on August 10 2008. A new studio album, Television, was released on June 1 2009.

Music

After returning from study in Paris, Baaba studied traditional music with his blind guitarist and family griot, Mansour Seck, and began performing with the band Daande Lenol. 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".

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 (DVD)
• 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)
• 2008 – On The Road – Palm (compilation)
• 2009 – Television – Palm

Import releases

• Jombaajo
• Ngalanka
• Ndilane

References

1. Baaba Maal: African performer sings and acts on his social conscience