WOMAD

Laye Sow

From Senegal

Laye lives in Dakar, a sprawling sandy metropolis, but the centre for music in Senegal. His roots are 500 miles away in the Futa Toro region of Northern Senegal, on the Mauritanian border. He is a Fula, from Podor, and was brought up on the African tradition of storytelling through song, which was encouraged by his mother. His early singing career began on a concert platform with Baaba Maal. Having been noticed by Pape Seck at a concert in St. Louis du Senegal, he was recruited into the National Orchestra in Dakar where he became the lead singer. Laye Sow is deeply spiritual, a Muslim, and all his songs in some way include this theme. As an African he fiercely defends his country whatever the rights and wrongs of African society, and the weaknesses that create division consume him. His concern for these subjects are also expressed in his songs.