Thione Ballago Seck (born March 12, 1955) is one of Senegal's greatest singers and musicians in the mbalax genre, on par with Baaba Maal and Youssou N'dour although he hasn't achieved the same level of fame outside his country. Seck comes from a family of "griot" singers from the Wolof people of Sene
Innovator of the Senegalese popular music form Mbalax (pronounced UMM-BAL-LAAKH). The genre blends the Griot tradition of West Africa (praise singers and historians associated with royalty), Afro-Caribbean music, and African-American popular music. N'Dour began performing at the age of 12. He has si
As a member of Senegal's nomadic Toucouleur ethnic group, Baaba Maal has fought convention by challenging the caste system into which he was born. Although he does not belong to the griot caste -- the only caste allowed to enter musical professions -- he has become one of the most successful African