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Mbalax is a genre of popular music developed in Senegal and Gambia. Evolving from the traditional rhythms of the Wolof people, and absorbing a Cuban influence, it incorporated electric guitars and other Western instruments in the 1970s. It was made popular by Senegalese pop star Youssou N'Dour. Mbalax has been affected by ska and folk music.
Senegalese songs are usually unwritten, and certain instruments or musical styles (such as yela music for women) are reserved for specific genders or age groups. In the past, only griots could perform music. Their traditional role was transmitting oral history, genealogies and social rankings, diplomacy, and storytelling. Today, griots continue to participate in naming ceremonies, weddings, and funerals.
A type of drum called the sabar is played by the Wolof people and accompanied by dancing. Another popular instrument is the kora (a 21-string harp made of the calabash gourd). Mbalax music began as a tribal style using sabar drums but now incorporates a mix of Afro-Caribbean pop; it is popular in many parts of Africa.
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