Mamour Ba

Origin

Dakar, Senegal

Years active

1981

Genres

african jazz, african music, world music, jazz, instrumental music

Instruments

voice, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, percussion, balafon, djembe, sabar, drums, keyboard, piano, bongo

Biography

Mamour Ba is a Senegalese musician, composer, educator, and multi-instrumentalist who settled in Brazil in 1981, bringing with him a rich heritage of traditional African music. Holding a degree in art from the University of Art of Dakar and having participated in cultural exchanges across Europe and the Americas, Ba develops original work that promotes African culture, with a special focus on its connection to African jazz. His musical proposal explores diverse melodies and rhythms, resulting in a vibrant and danceable sound, which he frequently performs alongside his children, Cheikh (percussion) and Deynaba (keyboard).

Since his arrival in Brazil, Mamour Ba has become a reference in the dissemination of African culture, especially in Belo Horizonte, where he founded the "Conexão African Beat" block for Carnival. His musical research investigates the exchange between Brazilian and African black music, seeking to understand the rhythmic flows between the two continents. He also criticizes superficiality in learning percussion instruments, emphasizing the importance of patience, discipline, and deep immersion in traditions, something he experienced firsthand from an early age in Africa.

Throughout his career, Mamour Ba has collaborated with various artists and participated in important musical projects. His first instrumental album, "O Poder do Ritmo", released in 2013, highlights the richness of African percussion, such as the balafon, djembe, and sabar, blending it with Brazilian and jazz influences. He also had the opportunity to learn from Brazilian masters such as Hans-Joachim Koellreutter and César Guerra-Peixe, further enriching his sonic fusion. Mamour Ba is a cultural ambassador, connecting African roots with Brazilian musical diversity.