MP3 Taara - Lebonne Lippon

Afro-acoustic pop with strong roots in the Afropop tradition.

9 MP3 Songs
WORLD: African, WORLD: African- West



Details:
Taara is led by bassist/guitarist/composer Seyni Diop from Dakar, Senegal. The group was founded in 1999 and since then have performed extensively all over West Africa, particularly Senegal, Gambia, and the Djola boat from Dakar to Casamance.

Taara began as a group of friends playing music together and over time became one of most renowned bands in Senegal, going onto win The BSDA award from the Department for Culture.

The musicians of Taara include Seyniâs father Bello Diop, who in his prime played with musicians from Orchestra Baobab and Orchestra Nationale, and taught Seyni and many young Senegalese musicians to play and love music.

The lead vocalist, Mansour, was a talibe - a young child who would go about the city asking people to donate money, food or clothes for their marabout who taught them the Koran. It was then that he started to sing of his life and experiences. Other vocalists in the band include Khadim Sarr who is one of the best singers of his generation with his strong and distinctive voice. Jules Diop is the latest member bringing rap to Taaraâs sound. These voices join together with the sweetness of Binette Dioufâs to make a varied and distinctive sound of Taara.

El Hadji Cisse, guitar, has been with the group from the beginning as well as playing regularly with different artists in West Africa.

Khadim Mbaye, percussion, has joined the band on the latest album and has played and toured in West Africa and Europe with artists such as Pape and Cheikh.

The group have just recorded a new album âLebonne Lipponâ in Dakar and London with guest musicians from Europe and are planning a European tour.

The music is best described as afro-acoustic and is inspired by the old music of Senegal known as Taara.