16 May 2009
opinion
Lagos — African Voices seems to be focusing more on the arts than other areas of endeavour in its expose on inspiring African icons the world over. A close look at all the previous personalities reveal either a bias for Africans in the arts - music, theatre, film directing, writers, etc. There have been a few political figures, the most prominent being Ian Kharma of Botswana. The reason may not be far fetched. Bank PHB had set out in its partnership with CNN to beam attention on prominent Africans whose lives are sources of inspiration to their communities and beyond. The whole idea is to encourage the younger generation and indeed everyone to lean from the inspiring stories of heroes and heroines who have surmounted daunting challenges to become shinning lights on the continent. Unfortunately, there are few political figures on the continent that would qualify as icons. Again political figures being controversial and partisan may spark off distractions that would remove rather than add to the credibility of the programme.
I felt proud to be a Nigerian when I watched the edition that featured Chinua Achebe. It was revealing. Not many knew that "Things Fall Apart" has been translated into over 40 languages; that Chinua Achebe is perhaps one of the most widely read novelists, the word over; that besides his literary genius, Achebe has a strong political consciousness and was indeed involved in the politics of the first and second republic. Last week, we saw Angelique Kidjo, the charismatic South African singer turned UN humanitarian ambassador reveal the other sides of her beyond music. This weekend we are coming back to West Africa to feature a Senegalese musical icon Baaba Maal whose fortuitous entry into music has brought him fame and fortune beyond the shores of Africa.
A superstar in his native Senegal, spiritual pop singer Baaba Maal was not even born to be a performer - in his culture, tradition dictates that the ancient griot caste must produce the singers and storytellers, and Maal was born in the city of Podor in 1953 into the fisherman's caste. Despite his parents' insistence that he becomes a lawyer, he grew up surrounded by music, absorbing both the traditional sounds of the region as well as American R&B and soul, later discovering jazz and blues.
He studied music first in Dakar and then in Paris. Upon return to Senegal, Maal formed the group Daande Lenol - literally, "The Voice of the Race" - and began honing a highly distinctive sound fusing traditional African music with elements of pop and reggae; in 1988 he issued the LP Wango, the first in a series of highly successful albums which also included 1991's Baayo, 1992's Lam Toro and 1994's Firin' in Fouta. In 1998, Maal released Nomad Soul - the first recording on Chris Blackwell's new Palm Pictures label, it featured cameos by Brian Eno, Howie B. and others. Jombaajo followed in the spring of 2000.
Baaba Maal is a uniquely talented singer. He's equally at home with an acoustic guitar playing traditional folk music or playing the hottest international dance music. He's finally emerging into the international spotlight as one of the world's hottest performers. While most Senegalese performers belong to the Wolof ethnic group, Baaba Maal is a member of the Pulaar (also known as Fulani) minority from Northern Senegal. He is a scholar as well as a singer and has spent much of his life studying his heritage.
His music is deeply rooted in the traditional sounds that he grew up with but has also been influenced by American soul and Jamaican ska. As a teen Maal moved to Dakar, joining the 70-piece orchestra Asly Fouta and teaming with his guitarist friend Mansour Seck to form the group Lasli Fouta; during the early 1980s, the duo also spent several years in Paris, where they recorded the 1984 album Djam Leelii. Baaba Maal belongs, together with others such as Youssou N'Dour to a generation of pioneering musicians who, in the course of the last decade, have placed Senegal emphatically on the music world's map. Baaba Maal is one of those that have convincingly moved music on in their homeland and as they live in Senegal, have contributed to the steering of its music industry and turned Dakar into an important centre for music in Africa.
African Voices airs on CNN every Saturday at 12.30pm and 7pm with a repeat broadcast on Sunday at 6.00 pm.
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