Edito de Né La ThiassCheikh Lô Guiding Star Emerging out of Youssou N Dour s Xippi studios comes Cheikh N Diguel Lô with Ne La Thiass , and uplifting hybrid that unites acoustic and electric instrumentation, jazz inflections, Mbalax and Latin rhythms. The spiritual soundtrack to the summer. In Dakar, Cheikh Lô has set the city alight with his cassette Ne La Thiass . A sensual enticing acoustic/electric mix, it embraces double bass, acoustic guitar, tama, cymbals, sabar and brushed drums, flute and the merest hint of electric bass, guitar and keyboard. Mbalax rhythms they call dagan or thieboudienne infuse the album with rippling tides of energy but the mood is strikingly Latin. Né La Thiass ( Gone in a Flash ) warns us to be prepared for the unexpected and to have faith in God s will. Produced by Youssou N Dour at his Xippi studio, the album will feature three new tracks upon its international release and the Senegalese superstar says, There was a grand feeling of camaraderie and complicity during the recording. I am very proud of Né La Thiass . Cheikh Lô s home is at Les Marmelles, on the coast about 12 kilometres from the centre of Dakar. He lives on a small housing estate just below the lighthouse that flashes around the bay marking the Point des Almadies, the westernmost point of Africa. Slim and sprightly, Cheikh talks animatedly about his life and music. His dreads once lost him his job at the Savanna Hotel but today they distinguish him as an artist with attitude. The patchwork clothes he wears are fashioned in the Daaray Djacass tailor s shop, by his friend Samba. Both men are Baye Fall, followers of Cheikh Ibra Fall, faithful companion to Cheikh Amadou Bamba, the visionary founder and prophet of the Mourides Islamic sect. In the late 19th century, Bamba rekindled the Muslim religion at a time it was being quashed by French colonisers. By his unshakable faith and the miracles he allegedly performed, he gave Islam the fervent soul of Africa and validated the belief of black Africans who were so misunderstood by their neighbours to the north of the continent. During his lifetime, the prophet gave a dispensation to Cheikh Ibra Fall; he neither prayed five times a day nor did he fast. Rather he and his followers worked to support those who prayed. To this day the Baye Fall are instantly recognisable by their patchwork clothing and dreads. The songs Cheikh composed for Né La Thiass are deeply imbued with the spirit, the teachings and the social ethics of the Mourides and their prophet. Bamba Sunu Goorgui is a praise song for Cheikh Amadou Bamba while Cheikh Ibra Fall is a reminder to all black people that if they waste nothing they will want for nothing. The beautiful Guiss Guiss pays homage to Lô s personal marabout and spiritual guide Massamba. Hard work and sparse reward has been a way of life for Cheikh Lô. Born in Senegalese parents in Bobo Diolasso a small town in Burkino Faso the land of honest men he grew up in a mixed community and speaks several languages Wolof, French and Bambara. I listened to all kinds of music and especially the Zairean Bolero which had its roots in Cuban Son. Cuban music was all the rage in West Africa in the Fifties when my older brothers started up their old 78s and danced with their girlfriends to El Pancho Bravo, I could mime the Spanish lyrics exactly but I couldn t tell you what they meant. I assimilated all of those influences. Cheikh taught himself to play drums and guitar and finally abandoned his studies to try to make it as a drummer. He left Burkina for Dakar in 1978 and his chequered musical career spans playing with various Senegalese bands, notably Ouza s group in the late 1970 s and entertaining tourists at the Savanna Hotel. In 1984 he found himself in Paris working as a session musician for Papa Wemba among others. For two years my programme was studio, sleep, studio. I spent the odd day with friends but I never really got to know Paris before returning to Senegal. Inspired by my experience in France, I wrote Doxnademe about our Senegalese brothers and sisters abroad. Dokandeme was a hit which won me the award for best new talent in 1990. Despite the successes of Doxandeme , Cheikh Lô s future was not yet assured and his next cassette 'Dieuf Dieul ( You Reap What You Sow ) was never released. Between 1991 and 1995 I made no recordings. I decided to hold out for the right conditions. Times were hard but the very last thing I wanted to do was to approach one of those bana bana producers from the Sandaga market who hire a studio, record your product, give you an upfront payment and that s the last you ll hear from them . He also wanted to record live with real musicians and not with drum machines. So I carried the songs for Né La Thiass around in my bag for two years. In 1994, Youssou was living around the corner at Les Mammelles. Although some people advised me against it, I gave Youssou the demo tape. He was immediately interested and said he would produce it. The success of Youssou s album The Guide and the hit single Seven Seconds delayed production. But in August last year a keyed up and tremendously excited Cheikh Lô finally went to work in Youssou s Xippi studio. The six tracks were recorded and mixed in nine days. Those familiar with Youssou N Dour and his Super Etoile band will immediately recognise musicians names like guitarist/arranger Omar Sow and master percussionists Mbaye Dieye Faye and Assane Thiam. I asked Cheikh Lô if he had indeed found the right producer. Youssou kept his word and made a contribution well beyond that of your standard producer. He came to the studio each day and he d say Try another take, it can be better still or this song is a bit short, let s reprise that part . Many producers would impose themselves at the mixing stage but Youssou left it to me and he simply came to verify the mix. That was cool. Lô s soaring songlines have a spiritual quality and when joined by N Dour, the vocal responses are those of a musical companion conspiring to create music that is warm and lyrical, not to say passionate. Despite his own demanding career, Youssou N Dour is determined to promote other Senegalese artists though his production company Saprom and his record label Jololi. My own success will lie heavily upon me unless I do something for my fellow musicians and for my country. There are so many people in Senegal who have very little to live on. Music brings revenue and we have some excellent musicians here. Cheikh Lô s is a special talent. He is a great traveller and he s very open. He really waited for this album. By Jenny Cathcart Reprinted with kind permission from Summer 1996 issue of Straight No Chaser Lire la suite