"The main role of a musician is to provide advice, to warn people and to make them aware of things they have never thought about themselves before. We use melodies and harmonies to build songs that can penetrate their minds."

The singer Baaba Maal was born in Senegal in 1953. After performing with groups such as Lasli Fouta and Daande Lenol, he published his first solo album, Lam Toro, in 1992. Maal´s musical period began this way, by combining traditional music with sounds from western Africa. Other works such as Wango and Firin' in Fouta arrived in 1994. Gorel was published in 1995 and Taara in 1997. His album titled Missing You was recorded in a small town called Nbunk. His instruments are simple, and once again he has fused tradition with pop.

After a taking a break from recording due to his constant touring activity, new albums came to light that included Souka Nayo and Nomad soul (1998), Jombaajo (1999), his first live album called Live at The Royal Festival Hall (2000), and Mi yeewnii (2001). In 2006, he published Kettode & Sangoul and in 2009 Television, perhaps his most international record in which he introduced hints of electronica and avant-garde New York pop.

Baaba Maal is not only a talented and famous musician.  He also represents the United Nations Development Programme as a spokesperson for matters related to HIV and AIDS in Africa.

Sources:

• Artist´s official web page

• Wikipedia

For more information:

• The singer´s Myspace

• Interview in ElPais.com

• Consult the availability of records in the Casa África Mediateca (Media Library)