Sunday, February 10, 2008

Dakar Divas Pt. 4: Ndeye Mbaye




Like Kiné Lam and Daro Mbaye, Ndeye Mbaye is a veteran of the Ensemble Lyrique Traditionel of Senegal's esteemed Daniel Sorano National Theatre, which she directed from 1987 to 1990. Previously she was a member of the National Ballet of Senegal for seven years starting in 1965.

Mbaye's cassette release Kóllëré (SAPROM, early '90s), a Youssou N'Dour production (he appears on one track), amply displays her expansive voice as well as top-flight work by an ensemble that includes Vieux M. Faye on lead guitar and Mbaye Dieye Faye on percussion. "Liiti Liiti" is a traditional song that has been recorded by numerous artists, including Orchestre Baobab (on A Night at Club Baobab, [Oriki 6129372, 2007]), but Ndeye's version is my favorite by far:

Ndeye Mbaye - Liiti Liiti

Ndeye Mbaye - Saxalaat

Ndeye Mbaye - Serigne Fallou

Ndeye Mbaye with Youssou N'Dour - Damel Fall

The limitations of the cassette format just don't do this music justice. The recording quality of Ndeye's cassette Ndaamal Daaru (Génie Musique, early '90s) is even more restricted, nor does the music reach
Kóllëré's exalted level, in my opinion. It still features some notable music, though, including these two tracks:

Ndeye Mbaye - Nelson Mandela

Ndeye Mbaye - Aduna Ack Lici Biram



5 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Likembe

Sorry to do this in comments, but I can't find an email direct to you.

Thought this might be right up your street. A new Fansite just set up to celebrate the release of Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds & Nigerian Blues 1970-76 on Soundway Records.

www.nigeriaspecial.info - Try it out for widgets galore all on Nigerian groove!

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Timjim (Fansite creator)

PS. There's a full length track online at
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zhao said...

bigup for the diva series... i am mesmerized by the voices... love and light for the world full of hate and darkness. thank you.

Anonymous said...

thanks likembe, I'm dying for part 5. Why not pay tribute to dial mbaye, she's another great senegalese diva.
Like we say in senegal, diarama likembe

Anonymous said...

Anon:

I'd love to do a tribute to Dial Mbaye. Unfortunately I don't know a whole lot about her, although I have 3 of her cassettes. If you could fill me in, my email is beadlejp at yahoo dot com.

Anonymous said...

I got you buddy