Mansour Seck
Encyclopedia
Mansour Seck is a blind Senegal
ese singer and musician born in Podor
, in the north of the country. Best known for his collaboration with life-long friend Baaba Maal
, he has also toured and released several solo albums.
caste, traditionally of low status and associated with singing, story telling and playing musical instruments. From childhood, Seck has been a close friend of Baaba Maal
, and in 1977 the two musicians travelled to explore the musical traditions of Mauritania and Mali.
Maal went to study Music in Dakar
, and in 1982, he received a scholarship to study at the École des Beaux-Arts
in Paris. Once established there Maal invited Seck and two other musicians to join him. They formed a band which became known as Dande Lenol (The People's Voice) and played mainly to the Senegalese immigrant communities of Paris. The album "Djaam Leeli" (1984) is from this early time together. As their confidence grew, they toured in the US together with Seck's first solo release coming in 1994.
Mansour Seck played alongside Baaba Maal
as part of Dande Lenol at the WOMAD Festival at Charlton Park on 29 July 2007.
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
ese singer and musician born in Podor
Podor
Podor is the northernmost town in Senegal, Africa, lying on Morfil Island between the Sénégal River and Doué River. It is home to a ruined French fort, built in 1854 as a centre for gold trading, and is the birthplace of fashion designer Oumou Sy, and musicians Baaba Maal and Mansour Seck....
, in the north of the country. Best known for his collaboration with life-long friend Baaba Maal
Baaba Maal
Baaba Maal is a Senegalese singer and guitarist born in Podor, on the Senegal River. In addition to acoustic guitar, he also plays percussion. He has released several albums, both for independent and major labels. In July 2003, he was made a UNDP Youth Emissary.-Biography:Born 12 November 1953...
, he has also toured and released several solo albums.
Biography
Seck was born into the GriotGriot
A griot or jeli is a West African storyteller. The griot delivers history as a poet, praise singer, and wandering musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition. As such, they are sometimes also called bards...
caste, traditionally of low status and associated with singing, story telling and playing musical instruments. From childhood, Seck has been a close friend of Baaba Maal
Baaba Maal
Baaba Maal is a Senegalese singer and guitarist born in Podor, on the Senegal River. In addition to acoustic guitar, he also plays percussion. He has released several albums, both for independent and major labels. In July 2003, he was made a UNDP Youth Emissary.-Biography:Born 12 November 1953...
, and in 1977 the two musicians travelled to explore the musical traditions of Mauritania and Mali.
Maal went to study Music in Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
, and in 1982, he received a scholarship to study at the École des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The most famous is the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, now located on the left bank in Paris, across the Seine from the Louvre, in the 6th arrondissement. The school has a history spanning more than 350 years,...
in Paris. Once established there Maal invited Seck and two other musicians to join him. They formed a band which became known as Dande Lenol (The People's Voice) and played mainly to the Senegalese immigrant communities of Paris. The album "Djaam Leeli" (1984) is from this early time together. As their confidence grew, they toured in the US together with Seck's first solo release coming in 1994.
Mansour Seck played alongside Baaba Maal
Baaba Maal
Baaba Maal is a Senegalese singer and guitarist born in Podor, on the Senegal River. In addition to acoustic guitar, he also plays percussion. He has released several albums, both for independent and major labels. In July 2003, he was made a UNDP Youth Emissary.-Biography:Born 12 November 1953...
as part of Dande Lenol at the WOMAD Festival at Charlton Park on 29 July 2007.
Discography
- 1984 – Djam LeeliiDjam LeeliiDjam Leelii is the first widely known release by Baaba Maal and guitarist Mansour Seck. Several of the tracks have been released on Baaba Maal's later albums.-Track listing:All tracks by Baaba Maal# "Lam Tooro" – 6:40# "Loodo" – 6:11...
(with Baaba MaalBaaba MaalBaaba Maal is a Senegalese singer and guitarist born in Podor, on the Senegal River. In addition to acoustic guitar, he also plays percussion. He has released several albums, both for independent and major labels. In July 2003, he was made a UNDP Youth Emissary.-Biography:Born 12 November 1953...
) – Mango Records - 1991 – Baayo (with Baaba MaalBaaba MaalBaaba Maal is a Senegalese singer and guitarist born in Podor, on the Senegal River. In addition to acoustic guitar, he also plays percussion. He has released several albums, both for independent and major labels. In July 2003, he was made a UNDP Youth Emissary.-Biography:Born 12 November 1953...
) – Mango Records - 1994 - N'Der Fouta Tooro, Volume 1 – Stern's Africa
- 1995 - N'Der Fouta Tooro, Volume 2 – Stern's Africa
- 1997 - Yelayo – Stern's Africa