He was born in the city of Louga (Senegal). He belongs to a griots family with a long musical tradition that is very highly regarded in his nation--his grandfather was the "great drummer of Senegal;" his father, Mamadou, was "Senegal´s first griot;" and his mother, Diakher N'díaye, with great artistic and educational abilities, is a singer who preserves and maintains her culture verbally (her songs, the history, the legends and the traditions).

Babacar Dieng has been one of Yossou N'Dour´s musicians in his tours through Africa, and he has collaborated with some of the most prestigious musicians from Senegal, such as Baaba Maal and Ismael Loo. In 1988, he founded the group known as Diengoz in his native city, and they began to perform in local festivities, followed by tours through all of the cities in Senegal.

In 1989, they moved to France, where they remained for two years and performed in the Francophone and the Angouleme Festivals. In 1991, they returned to Senegal and were invited to participate in Tunisia´s Monastir Festival. In 1993, they toured through Senegal to support the Village SOS NGO, which works for Senegal´s orphans and abandoned children.

In 1995, Babacar Dieng & Diengoz arrived in Spain, where they currently live.  They tour and perform throughout Europe in festivals such as Reggae Madrid, World Music Ibiza, Barcelona Reggae and Ciudad Real´s Almagro.

Sources:

• Casa África

• Babacar Dieng´s Myspace

For more information:

• Consult the availability of records in the Casa África Mediateca (Media Library)