Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Chérif M'Baw

Frank Bessem's
Musiques d'Afrique:

Chérif M'Baw
(Senegal)

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Chérif M'Baw is a singer, composer and acoustic guitar player from Ziguinchor, the capital of the Casamance region in the south of Senegal. Although it was foreseen that he would be a craftsmen like his father, he chose to be musician instead and despite all difficulties, he stood by this choice. After encouragements by Youssou N'Dour he was enrolled in a traditional music course at the Conservatory in Dakar and learnt to play the acoustic guitar at the same time. In 1994, he went to Paris for the first time for a contest organised by UNESCO. He came back a few times to Paris before settling permanently and made a living singing in the Parisian underground railway, accompanying himself with his guitar. His voice and talent have been recognised and he was asked to contribute a song on a sampler CD of musicians, titled « Correspondances », compiled in 2003 by the underground railway authority RATP. By then, he had already a record deal and a first album out.

This first album by Cherif Mbaw, « Kham Kham », has been very well received, offering a mix of mbalax, folk with tinges of flamenco, classical music and Indian music, with guest musicians from India and Cuba (Omar Sosa). The song « Doomu Adama » is a refreshing duet with British singer Carmel McCourt. Cherif succeeded more than many others in mixing this variety of styles.

Moreover, his clear voice, reminding of a younger Youssou N'Dour, and a poetic approach make the album convincing, remained far from too much mainstream (afro-)pop, as the Senegalese background is remaining as a strong pillar. The mbalax, however, never becomes formatted or a cliché, and the solid musical training of Cherif M'Baw is paying back. « Kham Kham » has been a convincing debut. A new CD « Demain » has been released in March 2005.

Born: 25 December 1968, in Ziguinchor (Casamance).
Style: mbalax, afro-folk.

Discography:

Title	Year	Label	Remarks
Demain	2005	All Other AOM003
Kham Kham	2001	Détour/Erato 857380213-2