In 1902, Dakar was the capital of French West Africa and by the 1930s, it became the region’s chief peanut-shipping port, growing in great importance. It attracted people from other African countries and across the diaspora—Malians, Maghrebis, Beninoises, Cubans. Everyone brought their unique musical influence with them.
After Senegal’s independence from France in 1960, the Cuban administration brought aid to African nations in the fight against imperialism, developing diplomatic ties with newly independent African nations.
By 1978, there were approximately 11,000 Cuban citizens living in Sub-Saharan Africa and Cuban bands touring the continent. Cuban music represented a cosmopolitan way of life and Senegal’s camaraderie with Cuba, a revolutionary country they looked up to.
Afro-Cuban music thrived in Senegal, especially Dakar, bringing us legendary acts like The Star Club, Orchestra Baobab, and The Sahel Orchestra. The Sahel Orchestra released an album in the mid-70s called Bamba that was so popular that it cemented Sahel Club’s place as a destination for young musicians from all over Dakar to experiment with various Latin-inspired genres.
