Africa Yewul

« Africa, wake up! » Such is the pious call by Magou in this convincing debut album. His calls for a war-free continent are followed up by thoughtful reflections on womanisers, the ravages of colonialism and slavery, the environment and the AIDS pandemic. Yet this is not a melancholic album, with toe-tapping tunes on love, Dakar by night or generosity, balancing out the sobering visions of Africa. They reflect the singer’s good humour and peaceful outlook, nourished by the sleepy harmony of N’Gor.

Magou has never left this tiny island and its hermetic, tranquil vision of the world. When I was there in April 2005, I could understand his visceral attachment to the fishermen’s ethos and rhythm dominating this village on the edge of Dakar. Undoubtedly, this atmosphere has inspired the thoughtful lyrics of “Mama Africa” or “Gorée”. “Between the symbolism of the slave island of Gorée,” writes Isabelle Jue in the sleevenotes, “,his everyday observations and his processing of the usually bad news from around the globe, he expresses his dream of a better and peaceful world through honest emotions, empathy and an admirable passion.”

These expressions are backed by soulful, spare rhythms or, conversely, dancy and infectious instrumentals like the ones for “Youmilé” or “Sama”. Magou is ably supported by his Dakar Transit band that features the slick guitarist Bayé Diop and Bodou Sene’s crisp percussions. The 31-year-old has patiently crafted a singular first album and turned down easy options that would forsake his philosophical meanderings. His windswept voice even takes on echoes of Tom Waits in “Thiant Gui” - perhaps a consequence of his nocturnal activities for, as he admitted in the May Songlines issue, “I’m a dancing night owl”.

The German label Network calls it the cherry on a 25th birthday cake. Throughout 2005 Network has been treating us to gems like “Golden Afrique, volume 1” and “volume 2”, which won the fRoots compilations of the year award. Magou and his endearing vision of his world is indeed a worthy climax to a fruitful Network year. “Africa Yewul” underlines the bottomless well of talented singers that Senegal has been regaling us with down the years.

April 2006

Daniel Brown