Mansour Seck

Senegalese vocalist and guitarist Mansour Seck was best known in international circles for his close association with lifelong friend Baaba Maal. Since childhood, he had been Maal's confident, mentor, and almost a brother. Both were born in Podor, Senegal. Coming from a long line of traveling oral historians, Seck was destined from birth to become a griot. But he suffered from hereditary blindness, and so whenever he toured, Maal accompanied him. The two embarked upon their first tour in 1977. It took them throughout West Africa, where Seck learned even more of native histories and music. In 1981, Maal moved to Paris, but he sent for Seck as soon as he could afford it. They played in Paris through 1984, when they returned to Senegal. Seck continued to primarily work in Maal's band Daande Lenol, and though it was an electrified modern group that also included traditional instruments, Maal devoted a segment of every concert for an acoustic session featuring himself and Seck singing traditional songs accompanied by their guitars. Although he appeared on nearly all of Maal's albums, Seck did not record his first solo effort, N'der Fouta Tooro, Vol. 1, until the mid-'90s. (It was recorded in conjunction with fellow griot Ousmane Hamady Diop; Maal also appeared on the album.) While he was adept at playing Maal's more modernized styles of African music, Seck remained most comfortable playing acoustic versions of the ancient songs. His favorite topics were Senegalese culture, traditions, and social problems. He also sang of his fervent wish for peace, and when he made others happy with his music, even though they might not understand his words, he knew he'd done his sacred job well and felt content. Seck died on May 29, 2024; he was 69 years of age. ~ Sandra Brennan