Orchestra Baobab rank among the most influential bands in West Africa. The ten-piece outfit from Dakar can look back on more than 55 years of history and over 20 studio albums. For those who’ve missed them so far, two chances are coming up: on 20 November 2025 at Knust (Hamburg) and on 25 November 2025 at Metropol (Berlin).
Formed in the late 1960s, the group developed a unique sound fusing Cuban rumba rhythms with West African highlife and Afrobeat guitar work. Timbales, congas and brass provide the harmonic foundation, engaging in call-and-response with the band’s narrative vocal lines.
Between Dakar and Havana
With their international breakthrough Pirates Choice (1982, reissued in 2001), Orchestra Baobab brought Senegalese music into global focus. For many, the band stands as a cultural institution, with music that accompanies the story of a young nation – shaped by migration, hybridity and musical exchange.
At the centre now is Alpha Dieng, son of the late singer and co-founder Ndiouga Dieng, who passed away in 2017. His presence marks a generational shift in a group that’s more than just a band – it’s a sonic collective, keeping musical identity alive across continents.
