Xalam – an African legend

This legendary Senegalese group started out in 1969 and like the greatest musical performers, they have continued to innovate over several decades they are still performing, and still magnificent! Taking its name from a Senegalese lute-like instrument, Xalam perform contemporary jazz tunes and African originals, using sax, drums, African percussion, bass, electric guitar and more. Embracing Rock, Salsa, Bossa, Rhythm and Blues, the group performed first in homeland Senegal and soon across the rest of Africa. Numerous musicians have played in the group and through this collaboration, often launched prestigious careers in their own right. In 1975 Xalam toured Africa with Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba and in 1979, went to Europe and released their first album, “Ade”.

Moving to Paris in the 80s, Xalam made their name on the Parisian music scene, and in 1982, made their acclaimed debut at the Paris Africa Fte. After recording their smash hit album “Gore” in London, Xalam attracted the attention of the Rolling Stones, who invited them to play on their album “Undercover of the Night”. A European tour soon followed, and in 1983, Xalam opened for Crosby, Stills and Nash in Paris in front of 20 000 people.

From 1984 to 1987, delivered 250 concerts all over the world on two massive global tours. Till 1994 they continued multiple performances in France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Tunisia, Japan and all over Africa, with resounding success, recorded two more albums and appeared at the 25th Anniversary Woodstock Festival in front of more than 500 000 people. Xalam returned to the European stage in 1999 and over the next several years, toured widely. Some members pursued solo projects for a while, till 2008 when the band began their grand comeback, with a series of sensational concerts and new albums. They hit the road once more, and began touring Africa – so we too can at last experience this legendary global African success – on HIFA 2010’s African Sun Main Stage on Stanbic Bank Day.