Baaba Maal to bring African tunes to Royce

By Sara Bamossy
Daily Bruin Contributor

Senegalese Afro-pop artist Baaba Maal blends the time-honored
musical traditions of his native West Africa with the modern
influences of funk, reggae, R&B, jazz and rock.

Maal will be performing selected acoustic songs from his most
recent release, “Missing You “¦ Mi Yeewnii” in
Royce Hall today. The artist has been entertaining audiences with
his fiery and dynamic performances for over a decade.

Maal’s set will be preceded by a short film segment titled
“Braided Hair,” from the DVD/LP project “1 Giant
Leap” by Jamie Catto and Duncan Bridgeman.

Mansour Seck, Maal’s longtime collaborator and friend,
will perform alongside him on vocals and acoustic guitar. The two
met as children in Podor, a town on the banks of the Senegal River,
and have been performing together ever since.

“We have always been the best of friends. My mother told
me before she died that I should always look out for Mansour, and
here we are today over 30 years later.” Maal said.

Maal’s unique crossover sound results from the culmination
of his varied musical influences.

“I grew up listening to a lot of Cuban music, which is
very big in Senegal and also a lot of the American R&B artists
such as Wilson Pickett, James Brown and Aretha Franklin. Also, Fela
Kuti was a great influence on me,” he said.

Through his music, he desires to communicate a message of
friendship, empowerment and peace.

Maal wants to educate people about taking care of the Earth. He
sings about topics like Mother Africa, and even his own mother, to
convey his themes of harmony.

In fact, Maal credits his mother as being one of his greatest
influences. According to Maal, the most important song on the new
album is “Yoolelle Maman.” On the track, he sings about
the universal relationship between children and their parents in
his native Fulani.

“”˜Yoolelle Maman’ is a tribute to parents,
particularly my mother, and of the sacrifices they make for the
sake of their children,” Maal said. “I would not be who
I am today without (my parents).”

The collection of 11 songs on “Missing You” was
composed on acoustic guitar and features the sounds and instruments
of West Africa. The tracks evoke a sense of longing for familiar
people and places.

The whole album has a traditional sound, according to Maal. This
might have something to do with the fact that it was recorded at
night and outside. The album was recorded in a mobile music studio
and sounds of village nightlife and chirping crickets permeate the
tracks.

“The village life came to us to listen as we played and
the insects were attracted by the lights, so when we were recording
we just picked up many of the background sounds and it worked with
the music,” Maal said.

Though his performances are usually characterized by wild
drumming and explosive dancing, for this concert Maal wants to
capture “acoustic Africa” with a more intimate
presentation.

“There are just the six of us on stage, and it is like
when we play in the small villages in Africa, where musicians just
come and join in,” Maal said. “With this arrangement I
really do feel like I am back in Africa and singing with my
friends, telling stories until late in the night.”

In the effort of playing down the spectacle aspect of his show,
Maal has left behind his dancers. Though, he may just have to do a
little dancing with Mansour, he admitted.

Baaba Maal has toured non-stop and earned critical acclaim
worldwide since his debut as a solo artist in the 1980s. He has
performed on nearly every continent, including Australia, Africa,
North America, South America, Europe and the West Indies.

“I really like to tour here (in North America). We have
been touring here for over 10 years, as the audiences are always
very attentive, appreciative and ready for a new musical
experience.”

MUSIC: Tickets to Baaba Maal’s
performance can be purchased on campus at the Central Ticket Office
for $35, $25, or $20 and are $14 for UCLA students with a valid
I.D. They can also be bought online at www.uclalive.com and at all
Ticketmaster outlets. For more information or to charge by phone,
call (310) 825-2101.