Def Mama Def: “We will introduce you to the new Senegalese musical era”

“Ring the bell, another sound is coming,’’ says Defa, one half of Senegalese duo Def Mama Def. “That’s what Oh Maliko stands for, and it defines us perfectly. Be ready, we’re turning a new page!” agrees Mamy Victory. The two singers are talking about their latest EP, Oh Maliko, and how the development of their urban Pan-African sound. “We met by chance through a mutual friend in 2017,” recalls Defa “and since then we haven’t separated. Musically, I think this connection is God’s plan.” Although as a duo Def Mama Def are relative newcomers to Dakar’s vibrant music scene, they’ve separately been in the centre of it all for several years. Mamy Victory is known for her powerhouse vocals and fierce rapping that often deals with gender equality and female leadership, while Defa is one of the most sought-after R&B voices in Senegal and a backing singer for several of the country’s biggest bands, including the legendary Daara J Family.

Together, they draw on the rich sounds of Dakar’s nightlife, from mbalax — the popular style that emerged in the 1970s and blends Wolof traditional rhythms and praise songs with Latin, jazz and pop influences — to hip-hop and reggae. “We draw a lot of inspiration from the music of home, first,” says Defa, “You can hear the sabar, which comes from Senegal. We like to call our music ‘tam tam piano’ [portmanteau of Senegalese tam-tam drum and amapiano]. Musically, we are very open.”

Though their sound is rooted in Senegalese popular music, Def Mama Def incorporate various African genres into their music, from Afrobeats to South African amapiano: “We tell the musical history of our continent through contemporary sounds,” says Defa. Starting with her incredible high-pitched voice, resounding like a clarion call to announce their arrival, ‘Jigeen’, the opening track on Oh Maliko, epitomises their kaleidoscopic style, combining amapiano’s bright synths and shakers with jazzy horns and Wolof percussion. On the title-track, Defa’s soulful vocals collide with Mamy Victory’s bold flow, delivering a dancehall-infused explosion that hits hard.

“We grew up with this mix of urban and traditional music. In Senegal it’s normal, and it works,” proclaims Mamy Victory. The eclectic mix of sounds that has always characterised Senegal’s music scene is celebrated every year at Dakar Music Expo, which brings together artists and music professionals from West Africa and beyond for four days of concerts, panels and events. Def Mama Def’s fiery performance there in 2022 led to a European tour and gigs across Africa: “Dakar Music Expo really helps with pushing new artists and discovering new talents, but in Dakar there are still few spaces for urban musicians to perform. And with the recent political problems we haven’t been able to perform, but we hope that in 2024 that will change,” Defa confides.

This summer Def Mama Def are scheduled to perform several dates across the UK, including at Liverpool’s Africa Oyé and Green Island Festival in Manchester. “We will be on stage with our drummer, Sym Sam, and our beatmaker, Baay Sooley,” says Mamy Victory. “We will introduce you to the Senegalese musical universe, the new Senegalese musical era,” she continues. “We are ready to conquer the world and share the love and the energy that we give everywhere. We have arrived.”

This article originally appeared in the July 2024 issue of Songlines. Never miss an issue – subscribe today