-

African music is perhaps the most accessible and popular genre of the world music scene.

This year, coming to the Rainforest World Music Festival is one of Senegal’s top groups – OMAR PENE.

Vocalist and composer Omar Pene has played a pivotal role in the evolution of Senegal's music. One of the few Senegalese musicians to rival Youssou N'Dour, Pene and his band Super Diamano have influenced the music of their homeland for more than a quarter of a century. While their roots remain in the traditional mbalax rhythms of Senegal, Pene and Super Diamano blend a global range of influences, including reggae and jazz, into their turbo-charged dance music.

Raised in Dakar's working class section, Derkle, Pene has been singing most of his life. Joining his first band, Cad, in 1975, he remained with the group for a few months. Together with bandmates Cheikh Diagne, Bassirou Diagne, and Bazlo Diagne, he joined with members of Tropical Jazz De Dakar, including guitar and harmonica player and vocalist Ismael Lo, to form Super Diamano. Initially tied to Senegal's traditional music, the group moved towards a harder-edged electric sound with the addition of jazz fusion-influenced keyboardist Adama Faye.

Omar Pene has generated his own style of vocal delivery to carry the lyrics of the songs he has written for the band. His beautiful, haunting melodies and the sophisticated arrangements bear witness to the fact that good music is a universal language that draws people together.

The main drum of the Senegalese M'balax, the sabar is a drum of more than a metre and is used to party! Its single head is beaten by the left hand while the right hand provides syncopation with a tiny stick. Lots of music and dances are baed around the beat of these drums in West Africa, such as the highly charged dance "le ventilateur".

There will be 8 band members coming in this group. Omar Pene is of course the lead vocalist backed up by 2 singers – Gueye Diarra and Koite Dieynaba. Conare Mamadou, also affectionately known as Doudou, and Diop Pape Dembel are on guitar and bass respectively, while drums and percussion are handled by Diagne El Hadi Ousmane (Lappa) and Papa N’Diaye.

OMAR PENE is just one of the international groups coming in for the festival.