Baaba Maal Overview

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... [more]

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 musicians today. His popularity as a performer is superceded only by that of Youssou N'Dour, a fellow native of Senegal. Baaba Maal studied music at the Conservatoire de Musique in Dakar and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. His style collides the traditional with the modern, taking funk, reggae, and rap rhythms into the fold of African village instrumentation. He is famous for his jubilant live performances -- his infectious rhythms and flamboyantly costumed dancers bring the audience to its feet every time. A current resident of Dakar, he remains close to his origins. [show less]