(bron: Afropop worldwide) Covid-19 has felled another African giant. Thione Ballago Seck was among the most beloved of all Senegal’s incomparable vocalists. Although lesser known internationally than his countrymen Youssou N’Dour and Baaba Maal, Seck was no less brilliant. He called his style mbalax, pur et dur, pure and strong. And it was. Over the blistering crack of sabar drums with their fierce, bucking rhythms, Seck’s voice soared like an eagle riding a blissful breeze. It was reassuring, omnipotent, transcendent. Born into a Wolof griot family, Seck came by his vocal chops through heritage. Originally a member of Orchestra Baobab, he helped to pioneer hybrid West African pop [...]