Daara J – A Rapper Boomerang

'The School of life' is the meaning in Wolof of Daara J's name, a Senegalese rap group. Through English, French and Spanish, they sing tunes in the Tassou style, a native musical form which recites the daily life and the opinions of the Senegalese people. This style is very similar to rap.

The band's name somehow reflects their commitment against the political issues of its land, such as the fight with the corruption in the elections of 2000. This rap doesn´t speak about bling-bling or hot girls. It is a very catchy style that clearly presents Africa as the place where the rhythm was born.

Boomrang

The previous theme, a song featuring the Malian singer Rokia Traoré, is a reference to boomerangs, those objects that you throw and they come back to you. Like a boomerang, hip hop music, whose origins are black, returns in its African version to its roots.

Slavery

Baobab Orchestra - Senegal

In the mid seventies, the Baobab Orchestra was considered one of the best bands in Africa. The fusion of many different cultural elements of afro cuban music (popular since the 40's in Dakar) and Senegalese music, characterized it. A proof of the orchestra's uniqueness is its mix of Senegalese rythms with latin rythms like son cubano, and its lyrics in different languages like wolof, diola or even spanish.

Dee Moo woor

This orchestra, founded in 1970 to make enjoyable the meetings of the ministers of the Senegalese government, became very succesful in Africa and Europe very quickly. It recorded fifteen albums until 1987, year in which Baobab was dissolved. In 2002, however, the orchestra was reunited with the help of the famous Senegalese singer Youssou N' Dour.

Bul Ma Miin