Baaba Maal

On this edition of All Songs Considered we've got an unusual new project from Victoria Bergsman. Known as the singer for the Swedish band The Concretes and the Peter Bjorn and John song "Young Folks," Bergsman mixes her distinctive voice and Swedish pop sounds with Sufi devotional music from Pakistan for a new band she calls Taken By Trees. Also on the show: Bon Iver's Justin Vernon returns with a group of friends called Volcano Choir, Senegalese singer Baaba Maal, and more.

In West Africa, Europe and the world-music scene, the beloved Senegalese singer-songwriter is a superstar. He's long been known for bridging the griot tradition of West African bards with popular music from around the globe, and his newest album, Television, is no exception.

Ten years after World Tracks last met him, the sprightly Baaba Maal, talks of his latest CD release, Television. The 55-year-old singer has not recorded a studio album for eight years.

Baaba Maal and Angelique Kidjo were among the headliners in a tribute to Island Records founder Chris Blackwell that rocked into the early hours at the Montreux Festival on Saturday.

Reuters - Baaba Maal and Angelique Kidjo were among the headliners in a tribute to Island Records founder Chris Blackwell that rocked into the early hours at the Montreux Festival on Saturday.

There's a storm blowing through south London. Inside, all looks calm, as Baaba Maal sits in a gold suit reminiscent of Elvis, and quietly sings.

Baaba Maal returns with new album and new influences

African Voices seems to be focusing more on the arts than other areas of endeavour in its expose on inspiring African icons the world over. A close look at all the previous personalities reveal either a bias for Africans in the arts - music, theatre, film directing, writers, etc. There have been a few political figures, the most prominent being Ian Kharma of Botswana. The reason may not be far fetched. Bank PHB had set out in its partnership with CNN to beam attention on prominent Africans whose lives are sources of inspiration to their communities and beyond. The whole idea is to encourage the younger generation and indeed everyone to lean from the inspiring stories of heroes and heroines who have surmounted daunting challenges to become shinning lights on the continent. Unfortunately, there are few political figures on the continent that would qualify as icons. Again political figures being controversial and partisan may spark off distractions that would remove rather than add to the credibility of the programme.

At a young age of 27 in 2001, Eric Wainaina was named by Africa Almanac.com amongst the top 100 Africans that had a huge impact on humanity across the the continent. The list included such iconic personalities as Nelson Mandela, Joseph Kabila, Yash Pal Ghai, Baaba Maal and Ousmane Sembene. Such is the impresive profile of the next African voice on CNN powered by Bank PHB. Using music as a tool of social cultural and political emancipation, Wainaina has become a powerful force in Kenyan national life.

?Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi has become one of his country's best-loved musicians, thanks to his thoughtful, gently sturdy songs such as Hear Me Lord. When Baaba Maal joined him for a fi...