Amadou Diagne is a UK-based Senegalese singer. A former member of L'Orchestre National du Senegal he has backed musicians as notable as Cesaria Evora, Youssou N'Dour and Jimmy Cliff.

 

His soulful bluesy voice has been described as 'honey-smoked', and with lyrics that evoke universal themes of love, hardship and pain this artist is a true exponent of African Blues. 

 

Now a songwriter in his own right Amadou released his first album 'Introducing Amadou Diagne' on World Music Network's Riverboat label before being picked up by Waulk Records for his second, 'Yakar'. Featuring label-mate Griselda Sanderson, who arranged the string parts and produced the album, and guest appearances from Louis Bingham, Simo Lagnawi and Abdoulaye Samb this album took his songwriting to a new level. The group won a PRS Foundation for Music award to enable them to tour the album extensively throughout the UK in 2013-14.

 

The track 'Jef Jel' from the Yakar was subsequently  included on World Music Network's 'Rough Guide to African Blues' in 2014.