Taara is led by bassist/guitarist/composer Seyni Diop from Dakar, Senegal. The group was founded in 1999 and since then have performed extensively all over West Africa, particularly Senegal, Gambia, Mali and the Djola boat from Dakar to Casamance. Taara began as a group of friends playing music together and over time became one of most renowned bands in Senegal, going onto win The BSDA award from the Department for Culture. The musicians of Taara include Seyni’s father Bello Diop (guitar and vocals) who along with Adama Faye moulded Senegalese music to be what it is today. In his prime he played with musicians from Orchestra Baobab and Orchestra Nationale, and taught Seyni and many young Senegalese musicians to play and love music. Vocalists include Mansour Ndiaye, a talibe - a young child who would go about the city asking people to donate money, food or clothes for their marabou who taught them the Koran. It was then that he started to sing of his life and experiences. Jules Diop, Seyni’s younger brother, brings rap to Taara’s sound while Binette Diouf adds her soulful harmonies into the mix. In 2007 the group recorded their album “Lebonne Lippon” in Dakar and London with guest musicians from Senegal and Europe. They followed its independent release with a UK tour later in the year, performing at the National Theatre on the South Bank of the River Thames, as well as wowing Bristol audiences at the St Paul’s Carnival. The music is best described as funky afro-acoustic and is inspired by the traditional music of Senegal known as Taara.