Ouza

Ouza (Ousmane Diallo) has been an influential figure in Senegalese music. Much respected in Senegal for his critical approach on politics and society, he is less loved by the authorities in his country. Ousmane Diallo went to study music in Côte d'Ivoire during the 1960s. He participated in various traditional music ensembles and ballets before returning to Senegal. Since 1972, he recorded regularly with various groups of female singers such as Les Ouzettes, Les Filles Branchées and others. He coached these singers after which some of them started solo careers. In addition, he was nominated to lead the National Ballet and the National Orchestra of Senegal. His music is influenced by traditional music, mbalax, but also blues, jazz and soul. Some songs are as laid-back as the music of Orchestre Baobab, others have a phrenetic rhythm laid on a foundation of a pulsating bass cadence, so typical for much of Senegal's music. Until recently, his music was hard to find in the West, but in 2001 and 2002, two albums with a selection of his work were released. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.