Maal biography

Singer, songwriter

“Musicians are way to society in Africa,” African performer Baaba Maal told Redbreast Denselow of London's Guardian manufacture, comparing African music with consider it of the West. “We as to our voice to say what the people expect from their leaders.” Striking a balance among traditional African music and contract with the music of Accumulation and the United States, Maal has evolved into an actor who carries moral authority, both in his own culture charge on the world stage.

Primate one of the first musicians to enjoy international success way in the world beat genre fame, he has never stopped experimenting musically and has proven remarkably durable in his appeal.

Baaba Maal was born in the slender town of Podor, Senegal, condense November 12, 1953. A adherent of the Fulani (or Fula) ethnic group of northern Senegal, he grew up as confront of a subgroup called Calm down Pulaar—speakers of the Pulaar parlance.

Even though many contemporary stars of West African music be blessed with been raised in griot (traditional musician-storyteller) families, Maal was not; he was the son dead weight a farm worker. Maal's dad, however, did provide a lilting example for his son: Recognized gave the muezzin, or hail to prayer, over a amp mounted outside the local conservation area.

The influence of Islamic transcendental green chant can still be heard in Maal's high, clear voice.

Traveled With Blind Guitarist

While attending primary in the French colonial megalopolis of St. Louis, Maal won an art scholarship that enabled him to move to illustriousness Senegalese capital of Dakar. Authority parents expected him to memorize law at Dakar University, however Maal had other ideas.

Flair joined a large traditional garb called Asly Fouta, where elegance learned about music from following West African cultures. Fascinated mass the music that he was exposed to, he decided shabby obtain a traditional Senegalese mellifluous education: He apprenticed himself designate a griot named Mansour Seck, a blind guitarist.

The four traveled around West Africa playacting in small villages and amusing musical lore from the community elders.

Meanwhile, Maal was soaking get on well other kinds of music. Unquestionable heard Cuban salsas and rumbas, Jamaican reggae, and American being music on the radio. Grace recognized the African roots be in possession of all these products of picture African diaspora, and at rule he did not realize range the musicians were not African.

When he did figure twig what he was hearing, significant had questions. “American black sound, rhythm and blues, reggae. Raving loved them, but they adept had their roots in Westward Africa. I thought, why gunk I hearing this on primacy radio and not traditional Somebody music?” he recalled to Jane Cornwell of the Independent.

Despite emperor nontraditional background, Fulani griots licensed Maal's talent and chose him as a musical representative remember the Fulani people.

Maal booklet out his education with guideline in Western music at dignity Paris Conservatory in France. Near, he told Cornwell, he “began to see all the differences in music and how cunning these musics could go together.” Mansour Seck came to Writer to join him, and honourableness pair formed the band Wandama and toured Europe and Senegal.

They recorded the song “Djam Leelii” as a duo heavens Brussels, Belgium. In the Decennary Maal formed the band Daande Lenol and recorded several albums that were released exclusively anarchy cassette tapes and distributed all through Senegal.

Appeared on Senegalese Television

Maal downandout through to fame in crown homeland of Senegal with out televised concert at the Jurist Sorano Theater in Dakar bind February of 1986.

His Wango album of the previous best was picked up for publish by the African music give your blessing to supplier Stern's in London. Maal made some appearances in Accumulation the following year, and cut down 1988 British producer Chris Blackwell of Island Records, who difficult to understand helped popularize reggae internationally trip hoped to do the exact same with West African styles, case in point to hear a tape come close to “Djam Leelii” and promptly symbol Maal to his new Mango label.

Returning to Europe, Maal toured France and the Netherlands plenty 1989, made a guest looks on Peter Gabriel's Passion release, and released new CDs smother quick succession: Djam Leelii (1989), Baayo (1991), and Lam Toro (1993).

These albums were hybrids of high-tech production techniques escaping British studios and traditional African rhythms; furthermore, Baayo featured straight specifically Hal Pulaar rhythm corresponding with grain grinding. Maal likewise made albums (such as Yélé in 1993 and Tiim Timol in 1994) for the African market, and the concerts grace performed at home, where be active would take the stage overfull a small village setting take up perform for much of description night, differed from the bring on shows he mounted in Inhabitant arenas.

In the United States, where African music was banish widely played, Maal appeared be glad about small clubs and traditional-music venues.

Wherever he appeared, Maal was spruce up master showman. Surrounded by keen phalanx of spectacular female dancers, he dressed in layers observe flowing robes that he incorrigible as the concert progressed.

Appease spoke both French and Unequivocally fluently, but, insisting on representation importance of minority identities, why not? generally sang in the Pulaar language, explaining the contents objection songs in concert for eccentric audiences. In general, Maal showed an unusual ability to direct a path that kept him close to his roots extract yet allowed him to collaborate with other cultures and rest on new musical influences.

Her highness Firin' in Fouta album ticking off 1994 helped spawn the mixed careers of Senegalese rappers Advantageous Black Soul and the African-Irish band Afro Celt Sound System.

Spoke Out on AIDS Issue

Celtic flavors were present once again forgery 1998's Nomad Soul, along versus a host of other sounds: The making of the publication entailed the participation of exceptional host of producers including Singer Emmerson, Brian Eno, and Jamaica's Robbie Shakespeare.

After that hi-tech extravaganza and the 1999 issue Live at the Royal Holy day Hall, the indefatigable Maal took a break, becoming involved come by business ventures in Senegal. Maal also intensified his efforts pick behalf of Senegalese AIDS boobs during this period, becoming practised United Nations Development Program delegate on the HIV/AIDS crisis infant Africa.

At a Glance …

Born take into account November 12, 1953, in Podor, Senegal; married and divorced; tending son.

Education: Attended Dakar University; toured Senegal as apprentice cherished guitarist Mansour Seck; attended Town Conservatory for two years, on all sides of 1980.

Career: Formed band Daande Lenol, early 1980s; recorded cassette-only albums in Senegal; signed to Mango label, 1988; recorded for Mango and Palm Pictures labels; toured Europe, and appeared as in reply act at World of Melody and Dance Festival, England, 2007; United Nations Development Program, HIV/AIDS spokesperson.

Addresses:Office—International Music Network, Two Cardinal St., Fourth Fl., Gloucester, Mater 01930.

Much of Maal's music abstruse political and social content, emotive not only on HIV/AIDS nevertheless also on African unity, paucity, the environment, and the undying effects of European colonialism.

Check a degree, he was distressed by Nigerian performer Fela Kuti. “Fela taught me that it's important for singers in Continent to become politically involved. Fiasco also showed how to include different black music in rule songs,” Maal told Peter Culshaw of the Daily Telegraph. Maal's thirteen-piece band was called Daande Lenol (Voice of the People).

But he followed Fela neither in his prodigious drug thorny nor in his polygamous ways; while Fela had some cardinal wives, Maal was married promptly and had one son. Span Maal's music was serious, crimson was less likely than Fela's to carry strongly revolutionary overtones. Many Senegalese regarded Maal in that a marabout—a dervish with wizard powers to bring rain, remedy sickness, or predict the future.

Maal returned in 2001 with Missing You … Mi Yeewnii, confine which he largely avoided electronics in favor of acoustic tools and traditional sounds.

The ep was recorded in open-air venues in Senegal using a travelling studio, and ambient noises much as the chirping of crickets are audible in the sound. Critical praise for the release inspired similar efforts from molest West African stars such variety Salif Keita and Youssou N'Dour. In 2001 Maal also unasked several songs to the history of the film Black Mortarboard Down.

Continuing to speak out profession social issues, Maal castigated organizers of the Live8 festival portend its lack of inclusion detail African artists.

He rivaled Gaelic rock singer Bono in climax ability to mobilize political attempt for humanitarian causes. Younger Mortal artists had appeared on description scene by the mid-2000s, nevertheless Maal remained an elder mp of world music who could tour and fill large halls at will. He established undiluted new festival in Senegal titled Blues de la Fleuve (Blues of the River).

Maal flat U.S. appearances in 2002 station 2006, and in 2007, long forgotten working on a new unchain, he toured Europe and completed England's World of Music nearby Dance Festival with a madly colorful seventy-minute set.

Selected discography

Wango, Syllart, 1985.

Taara, Syllart, 1987.

Djam Leelii, Mango, 1989.

Baayo, Mango, 1991.

Lam Toro, Mango, 1993.

Firin' in Fouta, Mango, 1994.

Tono, Studio 2000 (Dakar), 1994.

Sunugal, Mansion 2000, 1995.

Nomad Soul, Palm Cinema, 1998.

Live at the Royal Holy day Hall, Palm Pictures, 1999.

Jombaajo, Sonodisc, 2000.

Missing You … Mi Yeewnii, Palm Pictures, 2001.

Best of character Early Years, Wrasse, 2003.

Palm Earth Voices; Baaba Maal, Palm Films, 2005.

Sources

Books

Contemporary Musicians, Vol.

37, Blast Group, 2002.

Periodicals

Daily Telegraph (London), Apr 12, 2001.

Financial Times (London), June 23, 2001.

Guardian (London), June 14, 2001; December 24, 2004.

Independent (London), July 3, 1998; July 30, 2007.

New York Times, July 4, 2006.

Observer (London), April 24, 2005.

Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH), January 18, 2002.

Online

Baaba Maal,http://baabamaal.tv (accessed January 3, 2008).

“Baaba Maal,” African Music Encyclopedia,http://africanmusic.org/artists/maal.html (accessed January 3, 2008).

“Baaba Maal,” Radio France International,http://www.rfimusique.com/musique/siteen/biographie/biographie_6158.asp (accessed Jan 3, 2008).

“Baaba Maal: Biography,” World Music Central,http://worldmusiccentral.org/artists/artist_page.php?id=1076 (accessed January 3, 2008).

—James M.

Manheim