Malick Pathé Sow

b. Malick Pathe Sow, 1959, Ndioum, Senegal. Born into a family of ‘griots’ (traditionally the caste of musicians and artists within West African society), Sow took up music from a young age, singing and playing the hoddu (a local relative of the banjo) and ‘Fulani’ violin. In 1978 he formed the band Yellitaire with Baaba Maal, which became Dande Lenol, Maal’s backing band for live appearances. Sow toured with the band throughout Africa and Europe and appeared on Maal’s classic Baayo (1991). Moving to Brussels, he formed Welnere, his own band, featuring both African and European musicians. As can be heard on their debut, Danniyanke (released on Maal’s Yoff Productions label), they mix a broad range of musical influences (funk, reggae, rumba), while retaining the distinctive sound of Senegal’s Fulani region.