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THE ONLY WEST AFRICAN MUSICIAN to feature in the SA Music Awards, Senegal’s Ismaël Lô’s popularity on the sub continent has grown from strength to strength since his first Re-Connection tour of SA in 1995, when he played in Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town.
Nationality, Senegalese. Born: Dongo Buti, Niger, 1956. Mother: Nigerian, father, Senegalese... It is easier to describe Ismaël Lo as a "West African" than to pin him to national boundaries. So too with the music of this multi-instrumentalist, which draws on influences including the Wolof and Mandingo cultures of West Africa, and the R & B, Folk, and Soul of the West.
Ismaël Lo has created a modern mbalax sound, and an identity as a songwriter with words and message for a modern Africa. He began his musical career as a solo singer, performing with guitar and harmonica before joining the group Super Diamano de Dakar, as lead vocalist and guitarist in 1979.
Lo spent the period 1979 - 1984 with Super Diamano, before opting for a solo career. He then spent time studying in Spain and France, and recorded three albums, including the LP "Tajabone" for the French label, Barclay.
Instrumentation:
vocals, guitar
Genre:
African
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The album ISO was recorded in 1994, and produced by top Parisian Producer, Ibrahima Sylla for Island / Mango France.
ISO was released in South Africa on the Island/ Mango label (then Polygram South Africa). Videos of the songs "Dibi Dibi Rek" and "Tajabone" have been playlisted on South African television, and the artist’s media exposure increased greatly in the period following his tour and awards.
In July 1998, he performed briefly at the Mandela 80 Birthday celebrations in Johannesburg, and on the Jazz Africa Festival in Cape Town. Subsequent visits have included Cape Town, Johannesburg and Bloemfontein. He performed at the Macfest Festival in Witbank, in November 2006, and the Cape Town International Jazz Festival in March 2007. He also appeared at the Positive Rocks show at Sun City in June 2007.
Ismaël Lo and his band have continued to expand their audience, with performances at festivals ranging from Kimberley's Diamonds & Dorings, through to two shows for Oppikoppie, the Newtown Africa Day concert in May 2008, and a sold-out show at Cape Town's City Hall Sesssions in March 2011.
Ismaël Lo is also a painter, and as an actor, plays the principle role in "Afrique mon Afrique", a musical movie about Aids in West Africa.
Ismaël Lo is represented exclusively in southern Africa by Making Music Productions cc.
Contact Details:
Southern Africa:
Making Music Productions
+27 21 422 0118 (tel) / +27 21 423 4946 (fax)
agency@makingmusic.co.za
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