Ismaël Lô
Encyclopedia
Ismaël Lô is a Senegal
ese musician. He was born in Dogondoutchi
, Niger
on 30 August 1956, to a Senegalese father and a Nigerien mother. Shortly after Lo's birth the family returned to Senegal where they settled in the town of Rufisque, near the capital Dakar
. He also plays the guitar
and the harmonica
.
In the 1970s Lo studied at the School of Art in Dakar. He later joined the popular group Super Diamono, but left in 1984 to start a solo career. Over the next four years Lo recorded five popular solo albums.
In 1990 Lo signed a recording deal with Barclay and recorded in France his sixth solo album, Ismael Lo. Thanks to the success of the single "Tajabone" the album became a hit in the European charts. The album launched Lo’s international career.
Iso was recorded and released in 1994, and also became a success. The album contains soft guitar melodies and traditional Senegalese mbalax
. The following year Lo toured in Africa. The compilation album Jammu Africa was released in 1996. The song "Without Blame" is a duet with Marianne Faithfull
.
Lo's song "Tajabone" was featured in Pedro Almodóvar
's film All About My Mother
.
In 2002 he was made a Knight of the Legion of Honor.
His latest album Sénégal was recorded in Dakar, Paris and London. Lo says of it, "Giving this album the title Sénégal was my way of paying tribute to my own country, in recognition of all its gifts to me".
In 1997 Lo starred in Moussa Sene Absa's film 'Tableau Ferraille.'
The film "Shake Hands With the Devil", about Rwandan Genocide, starts with Lo's song "Jammu Africa".
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
ese musician. He was born in Dogondoutchi
Dogondoutchi
Dogondoutchi is a city located in the east of the Dosso Region of Niger. With a population of 29,244 , Dogondoutchi is the largest city in and administrative center of the Dogondoutchi department, the easternmost section of Dosso Region....
, Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
on 30 August 1956, to a Senegalese father and a Nigerien mother. Shortly after Lo's birth the family returned to Senegal where they settled in the town of Rufisque, near the capital Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
. He also plays the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and the harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
.
In the 1970s Lo studied at the School of Art in Dakar. He later joined the popular group Super Diamono, but left in 1984 to start a solo career. Over the next four years Lo recorded five popular solo albums.
In 1990 Lo signed a recording deal with Barclay and recorded in France his sixth solo album, Ismael Lo. Thanks to the success of the single "Tajabone" the album became a hit in the European charts. The album launched Lo’s international career.
Iso was recorded and released in 1994, and also became a success. The album contains soft guitar melodies and traditional Senegalese mbalax
Mbalax
Mbalax is the national popular dance music of Senegal and The Gambia. Mbalax is a fusion of popular Western music and dance such as jazz, soul, Latin, and rock blended with sabar, the traditional drumming and dance music of Senegal...
. The following year Lo toured in Africa. The compilation album Jammu Africa was released in 1996. The song "Without Blame" is a duet with Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Evelyn Faithfull is an award-winning English singer, songwriter and actress whose career has spanned five decades....
.
Lo's song "Tajabone" was featured in Pedro Almodóvar
Pedro Almodóvar
Pedro Almodóvar Caballero is a Spanish film director, screenwriter and producer.Almodóvar is arguably the most successful and internationally known Spanish filmmaker of his generation. His films, marked by complex narratives, employ the codes of melodrama and use elements of pop culture, popular...
's film All About My Mother
All About My Mother
All About My Mother is a 1999 Spanish drama film written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar. The film deals with complex issues such as AIDS, transvestitism, faith, and existentialism....
.
In 2002 he was made a Knight of the Legion of Honor.
His latest album Sénégal was recorded in Dakar, Paris and London. Lo says of it, "Giving this album the title Sénégal was my way of paying tribute to my own country, in recognition of all its gifts to me".
In 1997 Lo starred in Moussa Sene Absa's film 'Tableau Ferraille.'
The film "Shake Hands With the Devil", about Rwandan Genocide, starts with Lo's song "Jammu Africa".
Discography
- Gor Sayina (1981)
- [A] Yaye Boye Balalma / Gor Saay Na / Ale Lo/ Woudje Yaye -- [B] Tiedo / N'daxami / Sey / Adou Calpe
- Xalat (1984)
- [A] Xalat / Tali Be (Talibe) / Lote Lo -- [B] Xamul Dara / Mariama / Fa Diallo
- Xiif (1986)
- [A] Alal / Bode Gor / Xiif (Ethiopie Sahel) -- [B] Tiedo / Diouma / Marie Lo
- Natt (1986)
- [A] Ataya / Natt / Djola Kele -- [B] Samag La / Mougneul / Tadieu Bone
- Diawar (1988)
- [A] Jele Bi/ Sophia / Taar Dousey -- [B] Diawar / Jalia / Adou Calpe
- Wadiour (1990)
- [A] Wadiour / Diabar / Souleymane -- [B] Mbarawath / Nene / Tariha
- Ismael Lo (1990)
- Tajabone / Raciste / Ale Lo / Jiggeny Ndakaru / Fa Diallo / Souleymane / M'barawath / Nene
- IsoIso (album)Iso is a 1994 album by Ismaël Lô. The album was met with critical acclaim in France, and Lo toured Africa the following year in support of the release...
(1994) - Dibi Dibi Rek / Nafantav / La Femme Sans Haine / Rero / Senegambie / Baol Baol / Naboou / Nassarane / Wassalia / Setsinala / Khar / Samayaye
- Jammu Africa (compilation, 1996)
- Jammu Africa / Nafantav / Sofia / Tajabone / Raciste / Nabou / Without Blame / Dibi Dibi Rek / Lotte Lo / Souleymane / Samba Et Leuk / Takou Deneu / Khar
- Dabah (2001)
- Aiwa / L'Amour A Tous Les Droits / Biguisse / Amoul Solo / Dabah / Boulfale / Faut Qu'on S'Aime / Africa Democratie / Diour Sani / Badara / Ma Dame / N'Dally / Xalas / Mam
- Sénégal (2 October 2006)
- "Baykat"
- "Incha Allah"
- "Tass Yakar"
- "Jola"
- "Taar Dusey"
- "Manko"
- "Yaye Boye"
- "Plus Je Fais Ci, Plus Je Fais Ça"
- "Mbindane"
- "Wakhal"
- "Ouvriers"
- "Jiguen"
- "Ma Fille"
- "Tajabone"
External links
- RFI Musique biography
- Official page French bio
- [ Allmusic link]
- Lo discography