GUIDE OF SÉDHIOU - Cesie

"When I play, I forget the pain after a while. It is like making
love with God", a drummer comments with a smile.
Apparently contradictory to the religious singings is the Sabar
drumming as a means of e.g. celebrating the beginning of
summer holidays in Sédhiou. While the drums are giving the
rhythm, a group of girls
and women is entering
the dancing scenery
barfoot and shaking
certain parts of the body,
especially pelvis, knees,
legs and ass, in a way
that makes Europeans'
faces flush in the first
moment. This very
sexualized way of expressing themselves is seen as a normal
part of their tribal past and adds another piece to the very
colourful puzzle of Senegalese music.African dance has the
concept of polyrhythm and total body articulation with the
absence of close couple dancing as this was seen immoral in
traditional societies. The national dance music in Senegal, a
fusion of Western music like jazz, soul and Latin blended with
traditional Sabar drumming, is called Mbalax and is played
from night clubs to religious and cultural gatherings. It ows its
great popularity mainly to the big African superstar Youssou
N'Dour who is even more popular than the president in
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