African Roots and Rhythms: Baaba Maal (Senegal)
He’s one of the most famous musical artists from Senegal. You will recognize his distinctive voice right away if you’ve watched any of the Black Panther movies (he even had a cameo in the second one). Not bad for someone who was only expected to be a fisherman. And he would have, had it not been for the influence of a childhood friend and griot named Mansour Seck.
Maal’s father was a fisherman, but he was also the local muezzin, and Maal frequently joined his father in the calls to prayer. This helped him develop his voice, resonant and requiring little to no amplification. His mother taught him folk songs and the songs categorized as “women’s music” that accompany certain chores. Maal eventually went on to study music at the university in Dakar. He then migrated to France to study at the Conservatoire de Paris for three years. Upon returning to Senegal, he studied traditional music under Seck and began performing in a band.
Drawing from his exposure to many types of music from different parts of the world, Baaba Maal has been involved in the formation of fusion bands in his country. One of those is Positive Black Soul, a Senegalese hip-hop band that uses traditional instruments. Another is Afro Celt Sound System which is a fusion of electronic, Gaelic and West African music.
He has worked with the biggest names in the music industry and contributed to the Red Hot + Rhapsody and Red Hot + Riot albums. He has provided songs for films such as The Last Temptation of Christ, Black Hawk Down and both Wakanda films, as well as the video game Far Cry 2. He has collaborated with The Very Best, Mumford & Sons, Taj Mahal, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, Tony Allen, U2, Damon Albarn, Archie Shepp and Antibalas.
He founded a charity in 2016 that focuses on global sustainable development to support people in Senegal. One of his projects focuses on stopping the desertification of the Sahel through a tree planting initiative. He is also a UNCCD Goodwill Ambassador, and a global ambassador for Oxfam.
Baaba Maal and Mansour Seck remains friends to this day.
Great song from his Missing You release.
Another standout from his Firin’ In Fouta release, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best World Music Album.
This is the title track from his The Traveller release.
For more information about Baaba Maal, including upcoming releases and tour dates, go to his website at www.baabamaal.com.
