Laba Sosseh

Laba Sosseh
Birth name	Laba Badara Sosseh
Also known as	Labba Sosseh
Born	(1943-03-12)12 March 1943
Died	September 20, 2007(2007-09-20)(aged 64)
Genres	Son salsa
Occupation(s)	Singer Composer
Years active	1960–2007
Labels	Africa Productions N'Dardisc SAR Records Espace Africa Sacodis Disques Espérance Disques M.A.G.

Laba Badara Sosseh;Labba SossehorLaba Sosseh(born March 12, 1943, inBathurstnowBanjul,Gambia,died September 20, 2007, inDakar,Senegal) was aSenegalesesonandsalsasinger and composer. According to Abdoulaye Saine of Miami University, Sosseh is regarded as "the greatest salsa singer of his generation and perhaps of all time inSenegambia Major." Daughter:khady Sosseh,Ndiallou Sosseh

Early life and family

Agriot,Sosseh was born in Bathurst, British Gambia (nowBanjul,the Gambia) on 12 March 1943. Through his mother Aji Mariama Mbaye, commonly referred to as Aja Jankey Mbaye, he is related to theSenegambianmusicianMusa Ngumand Gambian historianAlieu Ebrima Cham Joof.Through his father Dembo Corah Sosseh (or Dembo Kura Sosseh), he is related to Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof through the Sosseh—Joof family.His maternal grandfatherTafsir Demba Njange Mbaye(or Tafsir Demba Mbaye/Mbye), was an early 20th century Muslim religious leader in Banjul andimamof the local mosque in Half-Die, Banjul. There is a street named after Tafsir Demba in Banjul. Like his cousin Musa, he was ethnicallySererbut occasionally sang inWolof.His ancestors came from the Serer precolonialKingdom of Saloumand fromBanjul,the Gambia.His mother was born in the Gambia but trace descent patrilineally to Kaymor then part of the Kingdom of Saloum, now part of modern day Senegal. His father was born in Senegal. Sosseh was his mother's only child.

His father Dembo was a driver for theBritish Overseas Airways Corporation(BOAC). When Sosseh was ten years old, his father got a promotion as asignalmanand relocated toDakar,Senegalwith his family. In Senegal, Sosseh continued his education in French until graduating at secondary school level.

Sosseh's children include: Denzy Sosseh (an artist, singer, songwriter, and composer), Demba Said Sosseh, and Koumba Sosseh.

Career

After completing his French education in Senegal, Sosseh returned home to the Gambia "and got involved in the evening musicaljamboreeat "foyer francais" at the hill and Leman Street Junction in Banjul. The "African band" then emerged and Labba joined the band with musicians like Badou Jobe, Ousainou Senghore, and many others. "

Whilst in Darkar due to his father's work at the airport, Sosseh engaged in the Senegalese capital's musical scene, which was at the time strongly tilted towardsson,rumbaand other Cuban rhythms.Sosseh was an early member of Dakar's influentialStar Band,but in 1962 he left the Star Band along with Dexter Johnson who was creating his own band, Super Star de Dakar.Sosseh sang with Dexter Johnson's Super Star de Dakar until the late 1960s when he took some of the members of the band toAbidjan,Côte d'Ivoirewhere they performed under the same name while Dexter Johnson kept the original band performing in Dakar.He also performed withIssa Cissokho's Vedette band.

In 1972, Sosseh cast his lot with a splinter group, Superstar de Dakar, that was based inAbidjan,Côte d'Ivoire.The band went through several incarnations, including the Super International Band de Dakar featuring singerPape Fall,and Liwanza. After recording with Liwanza for local producer Aboudou Lassissi in 1977, Lassissi managed for Sosseh to visitNew York City,where he became involved in the fledglingsalsascene, and recorded a series of LPs titled "Salsa Africana", with direction from Cuban soneroMonguito"El Unico".

Sosseh remained connected to the New York salsa scene for thirty years. He recorded repeatedly withOrquesta Aragónin Paris, and his song "Diamoule Mawo" was covered byJoe Arroyo(as "Yamulemau", with Arroyo singing inWolof languageby means of a phonetics sheet).

In 1998, Sosseh was tapped by famed Afro-salsa bandAfricandofor their albumBaloba!where he sang two tunes: "Ayo Nene" and his signature tune "Aminata". When Senegal and Cuba normalized relations, Sosseh was part of the "Afro-salseros de Senegal" project, together with Pape Fall,James Gadiagaand Issa Cissokho among others. On their only record, Sosseh sings "El Manisero" and (again) "Aminata".

Sosseh was also featured in several compilations of Afro-Cuban music, including "Putumayo: Congo to Cuba".

Personal life and death

Sosseh, who fathered 27 children,died 20 September 2007 in Dakar "after a long illness".Colleagues Pape Fall and Cheikh Tidiane Tall announced his death onRTS,Senegal's state-owned media corporation. Sosseh was buried at the Muslim cemetery inYoff,Dakar.

See also

• Music of the Gambia
• Music of Senegal
• Music of Africa
• Music of African heritage in Cuba
• Music of Cuba

External links

• Audio - Laba SossehonYouTube