Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Viviane

Frank Bessem's
Musiques d'Afrique:

Viviane N'Dour
(Senegal)

retour aux Musiques d'Afrique
Back to Musiques d'Afrique
Back to Musiques du Senegal

Viviane has become a star in Senegal in a very short time. It was only in 1999 that she released a first album. Since then, her unique style blending r&b and mbalax, and her sensitive voice has made her into a star, and she is starting to have some success outside Senegal too.

Viviane has been working as a backing vocalist in Youssou N'Dour's Super Etoile de Dakar since 1993. Viviane, who married a few years later with Bouba N'Dour, Youssou's brother and manager, continued to sing with Super Etoile. She sung the big international hit of Youssou N'Dour with Neneh Cherry, « Seven Seconds », during live concerts, and the experience she had by working with Youssou was welcome when she decided to start a solo career. Her first single, « Sama Nene », was right from the start a big hit in Senegal and since her style was something new, she rapidly became very popular in Senegal and the rest of West Africa.

In 2001 she formed her own band, Le Jolof band, and a first live album came out. By 2003, she has made five albums in five years, in order to maintain her popularity in Senegal. She is now as big a star as Coumba Gawlo, and is seen as a diva and role model for young Senegalese women.

Born: in Mbour (80 km from Dakar)
Style: R'n'B-mbalax

Discography:

Title	Year	Label	Format	Remarks
Bataclan Café - Special Live	2007	Whatawhat Arts	Live album
Man Diarra	2005	Whatawhat Arts	2MC/2CD
Esprit	2004	Whatawhat Arts	MC/CD	Album by Viviane & Frères (various hip hop guests)
Fii Ak Fee	2003	Jololi VIVIANECD005	CD	With Le Jolof Band
Tere Nelaw	2002	Jololi VIVIANECD004	CD	With Le Jolof Band
Le Show	2001	Jololi DJOL01040-2	CD	Live album, with Le Jolof Band
Nature	2000	Jololi JL2001	CD
Entre Nous/Between us/Ci Sunu Biir	1999	Jololi VIVIANECD001	CD