DEATH OF SAMBA MBALLO, AKA “BATHIE”, MEMBER OF THE GELONGAL GROUP

The Gelongal group has just lost one of its emblematic members, Samba Mballo, known as “Bathie”, who died this Sunday, November 10 in Dakar. This news plunges the world of Senegalese Music and that of Fouladou into consternation.

As a reminder, Gelongal was founded in 1992 by three brothers – Moussa, Samba and Papis Mballo – originally from Basse-Casamance. The group has established itself on the Senegalese, but also African and global music scene, thanks to its unique style and its artistic commitment.

Initially, until 1996, Gelongal focused mainly on dance, exploring genres such as hip-hop, funk and breakdance. It was only after this period that they turned to music, notably by creating African rap tinged with traditional songs and Pulaar (Fulani) rhythms.

In 2012, the group was crowned at the Kora Awards, where they won the prize for “Best African Music Video Director”. In parallel with his musical career, Gelongal has also developed a production activity, directing numerous music videos, documentaries and short films. The group, a true multidisciplinary collective, has distinguished itself in various artistic fields such as music, image, photography, computer graphics, as well as cinema, by producing both short and feature films.