Luuma

Five years after his self-assured debut album (reviewed in July 2017, #129), Senegalese singer Sahad Sarr returns with a hybrid offering that confirms his growing maturity. The conscientious singer displays a rare ability to build bridges between his Serer/Wolof roots and the Afro-funky blues that have nourished him in the dozen years of a flourishing career. Luuma means ‘Market’ in Wolof. In this ‘organised anarchy’ Sahad’s stalls display slices of personal history and philosophy: the disappearance of vital parts of social life (communal village exchanges, fathers, marketplaces); discrepancies between African emigrants and European expats; the call for an ‘active utopia’ between urban and rural life and so on. These musings are delivered by Sahad’s distinctively melodic voice, powerful messages enveloped in acoustic guitar riffs beefed up by his tight Nataal Patchwork band. The sextet are shouldered by contributions from guests of the highest pedigree: Alune Wade on the bass, griot kora player Ablaye Cissoko, French Senegalese singer Awa Ly… even acclaimed writer Felwine Sarr contributes his telling poetry.

Luuma is part of a larger puzzle Sahad is constructing two hours drive west of Dakar. That’s where he is building an eco-village, Kamyaak, designed to develop sustainable agriculture, local artistic talents and basic education tools. The soft-spoken composer nourishes these projects through these high-calibre album releases, coupled with dynamic international tours that spread the word. Well worth catching live.