Baaba Maal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Baaba Maal
Maal in 2011
Background information
Born	(1953-06-13) 13 June 1953 (age 72) Podor, French West Africa (now Senegal)
Genres	Worldbeat
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter composer
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1989–present
Labels	Mango Palm Marathon Artists

Baaba Maal (born June 13, 1953) is a famous singer and guitarist from Senegal, a country in West Africa. He was born in a town called Podor, right by the Senegal River. Besides playing the acoustic guitar, he also plays percussion instruments.

Baaba Maal has released many albums throughout his career. His music often mixes traditional African sounds with modern styles. He mostly sings in the Pulaar language. He loves to share the traditions of the Pulaar-speaking people, who live along the Senegal River. In 2003, he became a special ambassador for youth with the United Nations.

Baaba Maal's Early Life and Learning Music

Baaba Maal was expected to become a fisherman, just like his father. But he had a different path in mind. His close friend, a blind guitarist named Mansour Seck, helped him follow his dream.

Baaba Maal learned music from his mother and his school principal. He then went to a university in Dakar to study music. Later, he traveled to Paris, France, where he learned how to read and write music. He ended up staying in Paris for three years, even taking classes at a famous music school called the Conservatoire de Paris.

Baaba Maal's Music Career

After returning to Senegal, Baaba Maal continued to study traditional music with Mansour Seck. He started performing with his band, Daande Lenol. Baaba Maal is known for mixing different music styles. For example, his 1994 album, Firin' in Fouta, blended African sounds with ragga, salsa, and even Breton harp music. This unique sound helped launch the careers of other artists like the rap group Positive Black Soul.

His album Nomad Soul in 1998 also featured famous producers. Baaba Maal has worked with many artists on different projects. He contributed to the 1 Giant Leap album and recorded songs for special albums that raised money for HIV/AIDS awareness. One of these was a tribute to the legendary musician Fela Kuti.

Baaba Maal has performed at big events like the Live Earth concert, Johannesburg in 2007. He released a live acoustic album called On the Road in 2008. His studio album Television came out in 2009. His music has also been featured in movies and video games. He contributed to the soundtrack for the movie Black Hawk Down. He also helped create the soundtrack for the video game Far Cry 2.

In 2013, Baaba Maal performed at the Harare International Festival of the Arts in Zimbabwe. In 2014, he joined other artists for a BBC Music remake of the classic song "God Only Knows".

His 11th studio album, The Traveller, was released in 2016. He worked with Johan Hugo and Winston Marshall from the band the Very Best and Mumford & Sons. He even toured with Mumford & Sons in South Africa and released a song with them called "There Will Be Time".

Baaba Maal's voice is also featured in the soundtracks for the Marvel movies Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. He worked with composer Ludwig Göransson to bring the sounds of Wakanda to life. He even made a small appearance in the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever film as a funeral singer.

Baaba Maal often talks about how traditional instruments have a special spirit. He chooses instruments carefully to match the message of his songs. For example, the kora and ngoni are made from things that had life, so they feel closer to people. Drums like the talking drum and balafon are made from wood, and their sound can make you think of forests.

Baaba Maal's Work for Good Causes

From early in his career, Baaba Maal has used his music to help people. He sings about preventing diseases and fighting poverty in Africa. His songs often highlight the challenges people face on the continent.

In July 2003, he was named a Youth Emissary for the United Nations. This means he helps spread important messages to young people.

In 2016, Baaba Maal started his own charity called Nann-K. This charity focuses on helping people in Senegal and other African countries. It supports careers in farming, raising animals, and fishing. Nann-K aims to bring these traditional jobs into the modern age, using new ideas and digital tools.

In 2019, Baaba Maal promised to help fight desertification in the Sahel region of Africa by planting trees. He hopes everyone in Senegal will plant a tree. In 2023, he became a Goodwill Ambassador for the UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification). He works to raise awareness about protecting land and fighting drought.

Baaba Maal's Albums

Maal performing in March 2011

Studio Albums

• Djam Leelii (with Mansour Seck) (1989)
• Baayo (with Mansour Seck) (1991)
• Lam Toro (1992)
• Wango (1994)
• Firin' in Fouta (1994)
• Gorel (1995)
• Taara (1997)
• Nomad Soul (1998)
• Djam Leelii: The Adventurers (1998)
• Jombaajo (2000)
• Missing You (Mi Yeewnii) (2001)
• Television (2009)
• The Traveller (2016)
• Being (2023)

Compilation Albums

• The Best of the Early Years (2003)
• Palm World Voices: Baaba Maal (2005)
• On the Road (2008)

Other Releases

• Jombaajo
• Ngalanka
• Ndilane
• C'est la vie

Songs on Other Albums

• Passion – Sources (1989)
• Unwired: Acoustic Music from Around the World (1999)
• Television with Brazilian Girls (2009)
• The Rough Guide to the Music of Senegal (2013)
• Johannesburg with Mumford and Sons (2016)
• Black Panther Original Score with Ludwig Göransson (2018)
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Original Score with Ludwig Göransson (2022)

DVDs

• 1999 – Live at the Royal Festival Hall

See also

In Spanish: Baaba Maal para niños