Cheikh Lô

Cheikh Lô, Senegalese singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, brings his distinct blend of mbalax, Afro-Cuban rhythms, funk, reggae and jazz to Jazz Cafe, London, on 23 June 2026. First noticed internationally through his work with Youssou N’Dour in the 1990s, he has shaped a sound rooted in West African traditions and Afro-Caribbean currents, carried by a supple voice and a deep sense of groove. Born in Bobo-Dioulasso to Senegalese parents, he cut his teeth in dance bands before finding his path in Dakar’s mbalax scene; that mix, along with his Baye Fall spirituality, still runs through his live shows.

After more than a decade away from the studio, Lô returns with Maame, his first new album in over ten years, and a stage set that folds fresh material into songs from Ne La Thiass, Bambay Gueej, Lamp Fall, Jamm and Balbalou. Expect rolling percussion, tight vocal lines and a band stretched between Dakar, Havana and Kingston, with arrangements that let the rhythms breathe and the melodies travel.