“There isn’t likely to be a more buoyant or affirmative-sounding release this year than
Made in Dakar by the legendary Orchestra Baobab.”—New York Times

Senegal’s Orchestra Baobab returns with Made in Dakar on World Circuit/Nonesuch Records, May 20. Made in Dakar builds upon the success of their Grammy–nominated 2002 album Specialist in All Styles, which won two BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music in 2003 (in the Africa category and for Album of the Year). Orchestra Baobab will embark on a North America tour this summer.

Made in Dakar is Orchestra Baobab’s first album of all new recordings since 2002. The repertoire chosen by producer and World Circuit head Nick Gold and the band features a mixture of new songs and new versions of songs from the iconic band’s 20-album discography. The album garnered critical praise following its U.K. release in October. The Guardian said, “They’ve reclaimed their place as pioneers of African pop,” while The Times called it “the perfect album for hot summer evenings.” Made in Dakar is “another winner” (Observer Music Monthly) that “confirms their status as the jewel in the crown of African pop” (Daily Mirror).

Formed in Dakar in 1970 by saxophonist Baro N’Diaye and bassist Sidathe Ly, Orchestra Baobab quickly became one of the world’s most innovative and important musical ensembles captivating a global audience with its unprecedented fusion of African and Cuban styles. N’Diaye and Ly assembled an all-star cast of players from diverse musical backgrounds to perform weekly at the Baobab Club, an intimate meeting spot created by and for Senegalese government officials. Critics hailed the ensemble as the greatest group in Africa and Orchestra Baobab was soon playing nightly to sold-out crowds.
Orchestra Baobab’s music resides where Afro-Cuban and Portuguese styles collide with Congolese rumba, highlife, calypso, and American soul. Dakar, one of world’s great port cities, has been exposed to an array of cultural influences for centuries—African, European, Latin America, Islamic. Orchestra Baobab combines these influences, pioneering a sound that is at once local and global, which has influenced international stars like Youssou N’Dour, Baaba Mal, and Cheikh Lô.

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For more information, please contact
Carla Sacks or Brian Shimkovitz at Sacks & Co., 212.741.1000.