Kine Lam

The mbalax musical tradition of Senegal is blended with influences of rock, jazz, and reggae to create the exciting sound of Kine Lam. With her gutsy vocals set to the highly percussive accompaniment of her horn-driven band, Lam musically expresses the beauty and charm of her native land. In a review of her American debut album, Praise, released in 1996, The Beat wrote, "(Lam is) a modern griot recording for posterity a snapshot of Senegalese history." Initially attracting attention in 1979, when she became the lead vocalist at the Daniel Sorono National Theater, Lam has been performing as a soloist since the early '90s. ~ Craig Harris