Baaba Maal, Miyaabele: This beautiful song comes from Podor, Senegal. Baaba Maal is one of the most famous Senegalese artists, after Youssou N'Dour. He sings primarily in a language called Pulaar and plays guitar. This song is actually part of an incredible album that I highly recommend. There was not one song I disliked on there! The album is called Missing You (Mi Yeewnii) (I will post a link for it at the bottom of this).
Baaba Maal's educational background is quite interesting. After beginning studies in his country of birth he went on to study at a university in Dakar. He then received a scholarship to go to graduate school at Beaux-Art in Paris. After completing his studies there he returned home to continue studying traditional music from a griot, someone who is responsible for passing on oral tradition, whether it be a story, a poem or a song.
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Click here to buy the album in CD format