Ismaël Lô
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With his guitar and harmonica, Ismaël Lô has offered the world Tajabone and Dubi Rek: the "Bob African Dylan" remains Senegal's sweet and wise voice.
Ismaël Lô was born on 30 August 1956 in Dogonduchi, Niger, a Senegalese father in office and a Nigerian mother; the family moved to Rufisque, near Dakar, where he grew up.
Spotted on television, he joined the Super Diamono group before starting solo in 1984, with a more folk and soulful sound that renews Senegalese music.
In 1990, his album Ismaël Lô was named Tajabone, which Pedro Almodóvar will reprint in Everything about my mother; the album Iso (1994) and his tube Dubi Rek earned him the nickname of "Bob Dylan african".
The Jammu Africa compilation (1996), with a duo with Marianne Faithfull, won him the Kora Awards for Best African Artist and Best Music, and in 2002 he was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour.
His album Senegal (2006), recorded between Dakar, Paris and London, is a tribute to his country; he has since continued to compose for cinema and perform on major scenes, from the Gnaoua Festival of Essaouira to European festivals.