Vieux Diop

about

Vieux Diop, whose real name is Alioune, takes the heart of West African music into new territory, making it modern without losing its ancient sight. Vieux owes his musical heritage not only to his mother, who was always singing the melodies and rhythms of Senegal, their West African homeland, but to his love of American music. “John Lee Hooker was my guy, and James Brown, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett.” His first instrument, at age 11, was a set of trap drums, which he played on Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour’s first hit recording in the 1970s. He played with N’Dour’s band Jamono in Dakar and toured with him in Gambia. Vieux studied music in Dakar (the capital of Senegal) as well as attending university, steeping himself in the folklore and traditional instruments of his native country. Vieux plays kora (a ‘bass’ kora), the jembe and samba drums, and other indigenous instruments. Along with his understanding of intricate musical patterns, Vieux has a talent for creating and singing beautiful and poetic lyrics. His goal, he says, is to “spread African music in general and Senegalese music in particular for love and enjoyment. Music helps us understand one another better and accept each other as human beings.” When Diop, arrived in New York in 1983, he discovered that "African music and culture was really not known. I remember that if you went out in African clothes, people would look at you and wonder why you were wearing pajamas." Like many immigrants, Vieux Diop mov

top songs

albums

Traditional Songs of West Africa

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Afrika Wassa

Vieux Diop (Via Jo)

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Putumayo African Playground

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Putumayo Kids Presents: African PlayGround

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African Playground

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African Voices: Songs Of Life

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Via Jo

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African Tranquility: The Contemplative Soul Of Africa

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African Voices [Narada]

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ViaJo

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Putumayo Presents: African Playground

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