Marche' HLM African Fabric Market Dakar

HLM African Fabric Market

Marche' HLM African Fabric Market Dakar

On Dakar’s streets, you will see people in handsome-tailored ensembles cut from colorful fabrics. But almost none of the city’s ready-to-wear shops sell traditional clothing. To get and outfit first you must head to the Marche' HLM Dakar's African fabric market.

Marche' HLM, " HLM is pronounced " ash-el-em and stands for Habitations a Loyer Modere, Meaning  affordable Rent Housing." Opened in 1976, this African fabric market has become one of the largest  African markets in West Africa. In recent years, it has becames a favorite destination for Senegales . They can find cloth at the best possible prices.

Marche HLM ," smaller market than Sandaga African 

HLM African Fabric Market

Market,"is  geared primarily towards  African fabric vendors, Marche HLM is slightly less crazy than Sandaga. You will find an endless selection of African fabric that you can buy and then get custom tailored into traditional or modern outfit of you choice. Senegalese fabric vendors usually won't sell less than 3 to 6 meters of fabric. A reasonable price is 1000CFA/meter.

HLM African Fabric Market

You have your choice from hundreds of rolls of wax-dyed bazin (dyed fabrics beaten to a shine with wooden clubs), vibrant prints, embroidered cloth, lace and silk. You can get matching shoes, bags and jewellery at the same place.

Senegal History

Senegal History

West Africa Kingdoms

Kingdoms and Empires

The region of modern Senegal was a part of the larger region called Upper Guinea by European traders. In the absence of written sources and monumental ruins in this region, the history of the early centuries of our era must be based primarily on archaeological excavations, the writing of early geographers and travelers, written in Arabic and data derived from oral tradition. Combining these data suggests that Senegal was first populated from the north and east migration, the last being that of the Wolof, the Fulani and the Serer. 

Senegals Youssou N'Dour

Youssou N'Dour

Bio Youssou N'Dour

Youssou N'Dour was born in Dakar to a Serer father. At the age of 12, he began to perform and within a few more years he was performing regularly with the Star Band, Dakar's most popular group during the early 1970s. Several members of the Star Band joined Orchestra Baobab about that time.

Despite N’Dour's maternal connections to the traditional griot caste, he was not raised in that tradition, which he learned, instead, from his siblings. His parents' world view encouraged a modern outlook, leaving him open to two cultures and thereby inspiring Youssou's identity as a modern griot.In 1979, he formed his own ensemble, the Étoile de 

Youssou N'Dour

Dakar. His early work with Étoile de Dakar was in the typical Latin style popular all over Africa during that time, but in the 1980s he developed a unique sound when he started his current group, Super Étoile de Dakar featuring Jimi Mbaye on guitar, bassist Habib Faye, and Tama (talking drum) player Assane Thiam. Despite N’Dour's maternal connections to the traditional griot caste, he was not raised in that tradition, which he learned, instead, from his siblings. His parents' world view encouraged a modern outlook, leaving him open to two cultures and thereby inspiring Youssou's identity as a modern griot.

Youssou N'Dour is one of the most celebrated African musicians in history. His mix of traditional Senegalese mbalax with eclectic influences ranging from Cuban sambato hip hop, jazz and soul has won him an international fan base of millions. In the West, Youssou has collaborated with musicians Peter Gabriel, Axelle Red, Sting,Alan Stivell, Bran Van 3000,Neneh Cherry, Wyclef Jean,Paul Simon,Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman, Branford Marsalis, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Dido and others.

Despite N’Dour's maternal connections to the traditional griot caste, he was not raised in that tradition, which he learned, instead, from his siblings. His parents' world view encouraged a modern outlook, leaving him open to two cultures and thereby inspiring Youssou's identity as a modern griot.

Youssou N'Dour

In 1979, he formed his own ensemble, the Étoile de Dakar. His early work with Étoile de Dakar was in the typical Latin style popular all over Africa during that time, but in the 1980s he developed a unique sound when he started his current group, Super Étoile de Dakar featuring Jimi Mbaye on guitar, bassist Habib Faye, and Tama (talking drum) player Assane Thiam. Despite N’Dour's maternal connections to the traditional griot caste, he was not raised in that tradition, which he learned, instead, from his siblings. His parents' world view encouraged a modern outlook, leaving him open to two cultures and thereby inspiring Youssou's identity as a modern griot.

Youssou N'Dour is one of the most celebrated African musicians in history. His mix of traditional Senegalese mbalax with eclectic influences ranging from Cuban sambato hip hop, jazz and soul has won him an international fan base of millions. In the West, Youssou has collaborated with musicians Peter Gabriel, Axelle Red, Sting,Alan Stivell, Bran Van 3000,Neneh Cherry, Wyclef Jean,Paul Simon,Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman, Branford Marsalis, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Dido and others.

In Senegal, Youssou has become a powerful cultural icon and is actively involved in social issues.N'Dour's work absorbs the entire Senegalese musical spectrum, often filtered through the lens of genre-defying rock or pop music from outside Senegalese culture.

In July 1993, an African opera composed by N'Dour premiered at the Opéra Garnier for the French Festival Paris quartier d'été.He wrote and performed the official anthem of the 1998 FIFA World Cup with Axelle Red "La Cour des Grands"Youssou N'Dour was nominated Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on 16 October 2000.

N'Dour's major asset is his strong cultural grounding. Even as he explores other cultures, his roots are well established. Some have gone so far as to describe him as the African Artist of the Century (Folk Roots magazine). He has toured internationally for thirty years. He won his first American Grammy Award (best contemporary world music album) for his CD Egypt in 2005.

By 1991 he had opened his own recording studio, Xippi, and, by 1995, his own record label, Jololi.
In addition, he is the proprietor of L'Observateur, one of the widest-circulation newspapers in Senegal, the radio station RFM (Radio Future Medias) and the TV channel TFM. N'Dour has supported several social and political causes. In 1985, he organized a concert for the release of Nelson Mandela. He was a featured performer in the 1988 worldwide Amnesty International Human Rights Now! Tour collaborating 

Youssou N'Dour

with Lou Reed on a version of the Peter Gabriel song Biko which was produced by Richard James Burgess and featured on the Amnesty International benefit album The Secret Policeman's Third Ball. He has worked with the United Nations and [[UNICEF], and he started Project Joko to open internet cafés in Africa and to connect Senegalese communities around the world. He performed in three of theLive 8 concerts (in Live 8 concert, London, Live 8 concert, Paris and at the Live 8 concert, Eden Project in Cornwall) on 2 July 2005, with Dido

In 2006, N'Dour played the role of the African-British abolitionist Olaudah Equiano in the movie Amazing Grace, which chronicles the efforts of William Wilberforce to end slavery in the British Empire.[12]

He covered John Lennon's "Jealous Guy" for the 2007 CD Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur. He appeared in a joint Spain-Senegal ad campaign against illegal immigrants.
Youssou N'Dour participated in the Stock Exchange of Visions project in 2007. Since 2007 he has been a council member of the World Future Council.

In 2008, Youssou N'dour offered one of his compositions : Bébé, for the French singer Cynthia Brown.In 2009, he released his song "Wake Up (It's Africa Calling)" under a Creative Commons license to help IntraHealth International in their IntraHealth Open campaign to bring open source health applications to Africa. The song was remixed by a variety of artists including Nas, Peter Buck of R.E.M., and Duncan Sheik to help raise money for the campaign.In 2011, N'Dour was awarded an honorary doctoral degree in Music from Yale University.

At the beginning of 2012, he announced his entrance into the race for the presidency of Senegal for the 2012 presidential election, competing against Abdoulaye Wade.

Albums

•  Bitim Rew (1984)
• Nelson Mandela (1986)
• Immigrés (1988)
• The Lion (1989)
• Set (1990)
• Eyes Open (1992)
• The Guide (Wommat) (1994)
• Djamil (1996)
• Inedits 84-85 (1997)
• Special Fin D'annee Plus (1999)
• Lii (2000)
• Joko: From Village To Town (2000)
• Joko: The Link (2000)
• Rewmi (2000)
• Le Grand Bal (2000)
• St. Louis (2000)
• Le Grand Bal a Bercy (2001)
• Ba Tay (2002)
• Nothing's In Vain (2002)
• Youssou N'Dour and His Friends (2002)
• Kirikou (2004)
• Egypt (2004)
• Alsaama Day (2007)
• Rokku Mi Rokka (2007) — #30 in Rolling Stone's Top 50 Albums of 2007
• Special Fin D'annee : Salegne-Salegne (2009)
• Dakar - Kingston (2010)
• Mbalakh Dafay Wakh (2011)

Compilation albums

• The Best of Youssou N'Dour (1995)
• Euleek Sibir with Omar (You et Pene) (1996)
• Immigrés/Bitim Rew (1997)
• Best of the 80's (1998)
• Hey You: The Essential Collection 1988–1990 (1998)
• Birth of a Star (2001)
• Rough Guide to Youssou N'Dour & Etoile de Dakar (2002)
• 7 Seconds: The Best of Youssou N'Dour (Remastered) (2004)
• Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur — 

  Click here to Visit Youssou N'Douf official website


Brief History of Senegal Music

IFAN Museum of African Arts - Dakar Senegal

IFAN Museum of African Arts 

The Musée de l'Institut Fondamental d'Afrique Noire or IFAN Museum of African Arts in Dakar, Senegal is one of the oldest art museums in West Africa. It was promoted by Léopold Senghor, the country's first President.

 In December 2007, its official title was changed to The Théodore Monod African Art Museum ("Musée Théodore Monod d'Art africain"), after the French naturalist Théodore André Monod, former director of IFAN.[1] Previously its official name had been "Le Musée d'Art africain de l'Institut fondamental d'Afrique noire Cheikh Anta Diop IFAN/CAD".

IFAN Museum of African Arts 

The museum is part of the Institut Fondamental d'Afrique Noire (IFAN) institute, founded 1936 under the Popular Front government in France. When IFAN was transferred to Cheikh Anta Diop University in 1960, the building at Place Soweto near the National Assembly of Senegal was converted into a museum. 

It is today one of the most prestigious centers for the study of African culture and part of the Cheikh Anta Diop University. As the main cultural research center of the colonies of French West Africa, it contains important collections from across Francophone Africa.

The museum is one of the regular locations used in the Dakar Biennale exhibition, showing art by contemporary African and diaspora artists.

Contact information:

Place Soweto, Plateau

Dakar, Senegal

Senegal Taxis, Sept-Place Taxis, Car Rapides and Buses

By Taxi

Black-yellow or blue-yellow in color are cheap, numerous and available everywhere in Dakar it is customary to negotiate the fair since most meters installed in the taxis are broken or missing. Make sure that you have correct change.. drivers for some reason hate making change :-) If you're not from Senegal, you will have an outrageous price proposed, be prepared try to find out the going local rate before hand.

By Bus

The Dakar bus system, known as Dakar Demm Dikk (Dakar coming and going), is fairly dependable. Fares are 150 CFA, and there are no transfer. Unfortunately, for newcomers, there's not much in the way of a map of the bus system, so you'll have to figure it out on your own. The number 10 bus runs along the Corniche de l'Ouest and turns into the suburbs at Rue Aime Cesaire. The number 1 bus runs along the VDN.

By Sept-Place- Taxi ( Bush Taxi)

Senegal Sept-Place Taxi

Most station-wagon bush taxis were modified 1980s-model Peugeot 504 Basically, they modify the space where the trunk is supposed to be, so that it can carry two or three extra people. Cars like this are 

called “Sept Place” (seven seats) in Senegal . This is your best bet to travel outside of Dakar unless you want to hire a private car, which can be expensive. 

Sept-place taxis can take you to other parts of Senegal or to bordering countries. The downside is that you must be prepared to wait until all sits are filled before the driver will depart.

By Car Rapides

The famous Car Rapide, Senegal's most commonly used form of transportation, mainly used in Dakar and St. Louis. The cars are recognized by their blue / yellow colours and the text 'Transport Commun' and 'Alhamdoulilahi' (thanks to God). Don't let the name fool you. They are not rapid but are cheap.

Welcome to Senegal Soul

Blogging about things to do and  See in Senegal.