Mansour Seck (1955 – 29 May 2024) was a Senegalese singer and musician born in Podor, in the north of the country. Best known for his collaboration with lifelong friend Baaba Maal, he has also toured and released several solo albums. He was blind.
Seck was born into the griot caste, traditionally of low status and associated with singing, story telling and playing musical instruments. From childhood, Seck has been a close friend of Baaba Maal, and in 1977 the two musicians travelled to explore the musical traditions of Mauritania and Mali.
Maal went to study Music in Dakar, and in 1982, he received a scholarship to study at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Once established there Maal invited Seck and two other musicians to join him. They formed a band which became known as Dande Lenol (The People's Voice) and played mainly to the Senegalese immigrant communities of Paris. Seck was the band's primary guitarist. The album "Djaam Leeli" (1984) is from this early time together. As their confidence grew, they toured in the US together with Seck's first solo release coming in 1994.
Mansour Seck played alongside Baaba Maal as part of Dande Lenol at the WOMAD Festival at Charlton Park on 29 July 2007.
Seck died in Dakar on 29 May 2024, at the age of 69.
Links to Peel[]
Peel played a track from the musician on his show when he was collaborating with Baaba Maal in 1988 and also some solo material from the singer in the mid-90's, according to available tracklistings on this site. After Peel's death in 2004, it was later found out that he had a copy of his album in collaboration with Baaba Maal called 'Djam Leelii' in his Record Collection: M.
Shows Played[]
- 07 December 1988 (& Baaba Maal): Salminanam (album - Djam Leelii) Rogue
- 1994
- 30 December 1994: Quinze Ans (CD – N’Der Fouta Tooro Vol.1) Stern’s Africa
- 1995
- 04 March 1995: Almamy Bocoum (CD - N'Der Fouta Tooro Vol. 1) Stern's Africa