sun 10/11/2024

Cheikh Lô: Dreadlocked Islamic Funk | reviews, news & interviews

Cheikh Lô: Dreadlocked Islamic Funk

Cheikh Lô: Dreadlocked Islamic Funk

The majestic Senegalese singer is back with a new EP and glossy video

Cheikh Lô : the master is back

Cheikh Lô , the much loved Senegalese singer, is back with new recordings for the first time in five years with a three track EP trailing a new album in June, and theartsdesk has an early look at his new video for the lead track “Degg Gui” (see below).

The EP is a typically adventurous mix of styles – “Degg Gui” includes a vocal contribution from much touted Brazilian singer Flavia Coelho (her own reggae-soaked debut Mundo Meu is out in May, when she is performing in London) and also features the Parisian based accordionist Fixi, who has been known to record squeezebox hip-hop tracks.

The album is laid-back and glossily produced. Previously, Lo had been on the revered world music label World Circuit (home of the Buena Vista Social Club) but this is on a newish Paris label called Chapter Two, who have pushed the boat out for Cheikh in a way rarely seen, certainly in world music, in these cash-forsaken days. Cheikh’s band was flown to a top studio in Sweden, while overdubs and mixing took place in Paris. 

“Degg Gui” is about people who speak too much, while the other standout on the EP, “Doyal Naniou” with supreme Malian diva Oumou Sangare guesting, is a diatribe against African coups d’etat: “We must be able to have democratic elections and votes, and drive off those who try to claim power through force.” The third track is “Balbalou” a mystical funk workout featuring the jazz trumpet of Ibrahim Malouf. The forthcoming album manages to be both majestic and cool.

Cheikh Lô ’s return is timely in another sense – he follows the Sufi Muslim path of the Baye Fall, who are about as opposite from the fanatical death-cult of ISIS as it’s possible to get. The Baye Fall sport dreadlocks and colourful pathwork clothes, are not averse to smoking dope, don’t feel they have to necessarily go to the mosque or Mecca, do believe in the vitues of productive work, and follow spiritual guides known as marabouts. Cheikh’s life-affirming music is a much needed counterpoint in the Islamic world to the fanaticism which we are confronted with daily in the media. 

Chiekh follows the Sufi Muslim path of the Baye Fall, who are about as opposite from the fanatical death-cult of ISIS as it’s possible to get

Share this article

Add comment

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

newsletter

Get a weekly digest of our critical highlights in your inbox each Thursday!

Simply enter your email address in the box below

View previous newsletters