News in from World Music Network : New Release for Daby Balde - Le Marigot Club Dakar. Celebrated for his talents in West Africa, Daby Balde returns after his highly acclaimed debut album with more smoothly hypnotic sounds and gently lilting rhythms. Inspired by the music he regularly performs in Le Marigot, his popular club in Dakar, this album showcases his stunning compositions based in the Fula traditions from the south of Senegal, incorporating the sumptuous sounds of the West African kora, balafon and acoustic guitar.

Recorded in Dakar with Daby’s regular line-up, this album features the music that he performs regularly in Le Marigot. One of the few places in Dakar where Fula music can be heard, Daby’s club is a cultural and musical hotspot that’s always buzzing. Named after the river that runs through Kolda, Daby opened Le Marigot with the intention of keeping his Fula musical traditions alive. A regular haunt for those in the know, this album includes a buy one get one drink free voucher at Le Marigot.

Moutarou ‘Daby’ Balde was born in 1969 in Kolda, Fouladou, a verdant area in the southern region of Casamance. Famous for its deep roots in ancestral values and customs, musically it is a world apart from the arid north of the country. When he was at school Daby often used to sing and compose folkloric songs for numerous traditions and, after leaving school he learnt the guitar. Returning home from Gambia in 1994, he joined the Kolda Regional Orchestra and went onto perform regularly in Dakar and Kolda. Since then he has played at several European music festivals and performs regularly at his own club Le Marigot in Dakar as well as around Senegal. His live performances and his 2005 debut Introducing Daby Balde, which continues to win over the hearts of many with music that the BBC’s Charlie Gillett called ‘astonishingly good’.

Many of Daby’s songs have a political or social message and on ‘Lambé Leydi’, he rages against the corrupt establishments and politicians whose personal agendas are detrimental to the country’s development. ‘N'Diaye Yo N'Diaye’, sung in Wolof, is a tribute to Parliament member and friend of Daby’s, Omar Lo N’Diaye, who is praised for his high ideals and courage in defending the best interests of Senegal. Exploring social problems and prejudices, he sings about the risks of immigration on ‘Lalé Kouma’ and the victims of marginalisation on ‘Simbanam’.

Daby’s soothing tones also lend themselves to more light-hearted songs. ‘Aimer’ is a charming love song sung in French whilst ‘Egguéh Soumminam’ describes the comical lunchtime rush to get to Egguéh’s (a famous cigar seller) house.

Daby’s music draws on his life experiences, his travels and his Fouladou culture, which due to the ethnic diversity of the area has a particular rhythm which is quite different to that of the Dakar sound. Sung in Fula, Wolof, Mandinka, Joola and French, this album features the sonorous harmonies of the balafon, kora, violin, saxophone and African drums, alongside Daby’s hypnotic guitar playing.

Buy a copy of Le Marigot Club Dakar