Mbalax is a genre of popular music developed in Senegal and Gambia. It was made popular by Senegalese pop star Youssou N'Dour. Mbalax has been affected by ska and folk music. A genre is a division of a particular form of art according to criteria particular to that form. ... Popular music is music belonging to any of a number of musical styles that are accessible to the general public and mostly distributed commercially. ... Youssou NDour Youssou NDour (born October 11, 1959 in Dakar, Senegal) is a singer. ... This page is about the musical style. ... Folk can refer to a number of different things: It can be short for folk music, or, for folksong, or, for folklore; it may be a word for a specific people, tribe, or nation, especially one of the Germanic peoples; it might even be a calque on the related German...
Mbalax came of age in the '70s, eventually supplanting the classic, Afro-Cuban influenced music that had dominated the scene during the early years of independence.
With its almost fierce presentation of African roots, and its ecstatic dance energy, the music became an important vehicle for exploring serious themes and issues in the context of popular celebration.
The rise of mbalax helped to generate a stable of immensely talented musicians in Dakar, and they have continued to innovate.