Baaba Maal is a Senegalese singer and guitarist born in Podor, on the Senegal River. In addition to acoustic guitar, he also plays percussion. He has released several albums, both for independent and major labels. In July 2003, he was made a UNDP Youth Emissary. Biography Born 12 November 1953. Since his father was a fisherman, Baaba Maal was expected to become a fisherman as well. However, Baaba Maal devoted himself to learning music from his mother and his school's headmaster. He went on to study music at the university in Dakar before leaving for postgraduate studies on a scholarship at Beaux-Arts in Paris. He has become quite famous in Africa and is also the most internationally famous musician from Senegal, with the possible exception of Yossou N'Dour. Baaba sings primarily in Pulaar[LINK: http://www.undp.org/goodwill/baaba.shtml] Baaba Maal: African performer sings and acts on his social conscience