Submerse yourself in old-world charm!

Vieux Diop takes the heart of West African music into new territory, making it modern without losing its’ ancient sight.

Vieux owes his musical heritage not only to his mother, who was always singing the melodies and rhythms of Senegal, their West African homeland, but to his love of American music, “John Lee Hooker was my guy, and James Brown, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett.”

Along with his understanding of intricate musical styles, Vieux has a talent for creating and singing beautiful and poetic lyrics. His goal, he says, is to “spread African music in general and Senegalese music in particular for love and enjoyment. Music helps us understand one another better and accept each other as human beings.”

Vieux studied music in Dakar (the capital of Senegal) while attending university, steeping himself in the folklore and traditional instruments of his native country. Vieux plays kora, the jimbe and samba drums and other indigenous instruments.

His first instruments, at age 11, were a set of trap drums, which he played on Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour’s first hit recording in the 70’s. He played with N’Dour’s band Jamono in Dakar and toured with him in Gambia.