Mansour Seck

Mansour Seck
Born	c.1950
Origin	Podor, Senegal
Genres	Yela, worldbeat
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Instruments	Kora, Acoustic Guitar
Years active	1982–present

Mansour Seck is a blind Senegalese singer and musician born in Podor, in the north of the country. Best known for his collaboration with lifelong friend Baaba Maal, he has also toured and released several solo albums.

Seck was born into the Griot caste, traditionally of low status and associated with singing, story telling and playing musical instruments. From childhood, Seck has been a close friend of Baaba Maal, and in 1977 the two musicians travelled to explore the musical traditions of Mauritania and Mali.

Maal went to study Music in Dakar, and in 1982, he received a scholarship to study at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Once established there Maal invited Seck and two other musicians to join him. They formed a band which became known as Dande Lenol (The People's Voice) and played mainly to the Senegalese immigrant communities of Paris. The album "Djaam Leeli" (1984) is from this early time together. As their confidence grew, they toured in the US together with Seck's first solo release coming in 1994.

Mansour Seck played alongside Baaba Maal as part of Dande Lenol at the WOMAD Festival at Charlton Park on 29 July 2007.

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