Doudou N’Diaye Rose

One of the most respected African musicians of the 20th century, Rose was born into the musical dynasty of a traditional Griot family, and began performing as a child in the 1930s. Prior to Senegalese independence, he performed with the legendary Josephine Baker, gaining tremendous popularity in Dakar from a very young age.

In 1960 he was named as the first head of the Senegalese National Ballet, and in the 1970s he recorded and toured extensively with his Doudou N’Diaye Rose Orchestra. His extraordinary career also included collaborations with such artists as Miles Davis, the Rolling Stones and Peter Gabriel, contributing to both the Passion and US albums.

In 2006, Doudou N’Diaye Rose was declared a “living human treasure” by the UN for his work in preserving and introducing the world to the traditional rhythms of his Senegalese culture.