Ismaël Lô

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Ismaël Lô

Background information
Born	30 August 1956 (1956-08-30) (age 51) Dogondoutchi, Niger
Origin	Senegal
Genre(s)	Worldbeat Mbalax Afro-pop World music
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)	Guitar, harmonica
Years active	1970s – present
Label(s)	Barclay Records Mango
Associated acts	Super Diamono
Website	http://www.ismael-lo.com

Iso (1994) album cover.

Ismaël Lô (also Ismaël Lo) is a Senegalese musician. He was born in Dogondoutchi in Niger on 30 August 1956 to a Senegalese father and a Nigerien mother. Shortly after Lo's birth the family returned to Senegal where they settled in the town of Rufisque, near the capital Dakar. He is a versatile singer and artist, and besides his singing abilities, he also plays the guitar and the harmonica.

In the 1970s Lo studied at the School of Art in Dakar later joining the popular group Super Diamono, but leaving the group in 1984 to start a solo career. Over the next four years Lo recorded five popular solo albums.

In 1990 Lo signed a recording deal with Barclay and recorded in France his sixth solo album, Ismael Lo. Thanks to the success of the single "Tajabone" the album became a hit in the European charts. The album launched Lo’s international career.

Iso was recorded and released in 1994, and also became a success. The album contains soft guitar melodies and traditional Senegalese mbalax. The following year Lo toured in Africa. The compilation album Jammu Africa was released in 1996.

Lo's song "Tajabone" was featured in Pedro Almodóvar's film All About My Mother.

In 2002 he was made a Knight of the Legion of Honor.

His latest album Sénégal was recorded in Dakar, Paris and London. Lo says of it, "Giving this album the title Sénégal was my way of paying tribute to my own country, in recognition of all its gifts to me".^[1]

[edit] Discography

Gor Sayina (1981)

[A] Yaye Boye Balalma / Gor Saay Na / Ale Lo/ Woudje Yaye -- [B] Tiedo / N'daxami / Sey / Adou Calpe

Xatat (1984)

[A] Xalat / Talibe / Lote Lo -- [B] Xamyl Dara / Mariama / Fa Diallo

Xiif (1986)

[A] Alal / Bode Gor / Xiif (Ethiopie Sahel) -- [B] Tiedo / Diouma / Marie Lo

Natt (1986)

[A] Ataya / Natt / Djola Kele -- [B] Samag La / Mougneul / Tadieu Bone

Diawar (1988)

[A] Jele Bi/ Sophia / Taar Dousey -- [B] Diawar / Jalia / Adou Calpe

Wadiour (1990)

[A] Wadiour / Diabar / Souleymane -- [B] Mbarawath / Nene / Tariha

Ismael Lo (1990)

Tajabone / Raciste / Ale Lo / Jiggeny Ndakaru / Fa Diallo / Souleymane / M'barawath / Nene

Iso (1994)

Dibi Dibi Rek / Nafantav / La Femme Sans Haine / Rero / Senegambie / Baol Baol / Naboou / Nassarane / Wassalia / Setsinala / Khar / Samayaye

Jammu Africa (compilation, 1996)

Jammu Africa / Nafantav / Sofia / Tajabone / Raciste / Nabou / Without Blame / Dibi Dibi Rek / Lotte Lo / Souleymane / Samba Et Leuk / Takou Deneu / Khar

Dabah (2001)

Aiwa / L'Amour A Tous Les Droits / Biguisse / Amoul Solo / Dabah / Boulfale / Faut Qu'on S'Aime / Africa Democratie / Diour Sani / Badara / Ma Dame / N'Dally / Xalas / Mam