Baaba Maal

Born in Podor, in northern Senegal, Baaba Maal has his music rooted in the cultural heritage of the Fouta and mainly sings in Pulaar, blending Sahel traditions, West African folk, pop, reggae, soul and acoustic or electric arrangements depending on the period. Trained in Dakar and then in Paris, he first developed his career alongside guitarist Mansour Seck and the group Daande Lenol, before establishing himself internationally at the end of the 1980s and in the 1990s with albums such as Djam Leelii with Mansour Seck in 1989, Baayo in 1991, Firin' in Fouta in 1994 and Nomad Soul in 1998. Baaba Maal then evolves his approach by opening his compositions to broader musical circulations, between Senegalese rhythms, Afro-pop influences, rock, rap and electronic textures, without breaking with the central place of the voice and the narratives tied to his territory. His discography also includes Missing You (Mi Yeewnii) in 2001, Television in 2009, The Traveller in 2016 and Being in 2023. Over the years, Baaba Maal has collaborated with producers and musicians from very diverse scenes, participated in international collective projects and contributed to soundtracks, notably for Black Panther in 2018 and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in 2022, while continuing a regular presence on festival stages in Africa, Europe and North America.