Les Blues du Fleuve: Baaba Maal’s Festival of Music and Development, Podor

On stage in his hometown of Podor, Baaba Maal, a worldwide renowned artist known for his classical work, particularly his Oscar-winning soundtrack for the Hollywood picture Black Panther, stole the spotlight. This is the 16th edition of the Les Blues du Fleuve event, which is wholly planned and funded by Baaba Maal. The festival takes place in the rural town of Podor, which has only 15,000 residents and is located on an island in the Senegal River near the Mauritanian border.

“I believed we needed a festival that would leave Dakar and establish itself in an area like as the River region. But, most importantly, the festival’s name, Les Blues du Fleuve, expresses my desire that musically, people would recognize that everything happening in the world of music has its roots in Africa,” stated Baaba Maal.

The three-night music program culminates in a concert celebrating local traditions, featuring artists discovered by Baaba Maal who generally perform at traditional ceremonies in the Fouta Toro region.

“I discovered that these are really gifted musicians—truly wonderful musicians—who have not had the opportunity to perform on prominent platforms. So why not put a spotlight on them? Asked Baaba Maal. The Dia family of fishermen, which includes brothers, spouses, and children, performs at family ceremonies.

“We are The Dia Brothers, a musical ensemble. My name is Demma Dia, and I’ll be performing with Yero Dia, Baudi Dia, and Sileye Dia. “We are a family of master drummers,” explained Demma Dia, a local musician.

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