Our new audiovisual TV show “Y’Africa” promotes African culture in all its forms. Senegal showcases its artists.
Pierre-Claver Belleka alias Dexter
"Dancing has always been a social thing for me, it's actually a way to cleanse the soul."
Dexter is a Senegalese dancer of Liberian descent. He represents a kind of dance that he views more like a story. It is inspired by his childhood, spent with his family in Bangui, Central African Republic, mixed with an African cultural heritage and the world of manga. He is backed by the La Mer Noire company, which he founded with three friends.
Ibaaku
"I'm a sound poet, a hybrid, a creative spirit from Senegal."
At the age of 36, Senegalese multi-instrumentalist Stephen Ibaaku Bassene is one of the rising stars of the West African alternative scene. His "Afrohypnotic" compositions mix traditional Casamance rhythms, samples, hip-hop, jazz, reggae and vocals.
Nix
"What I'm interested in today is making albums that will actually last."
At 40, Nix, whose real name is Nicolas Omar Diop, is a "founding father" of Senegalese rap. He got into hip-hop in the 90s and has released three albums in French, "Black Crystal", "Rimes de Vie" and "Art de Vivre". In 2018, his first album entirely recorded in Wolof, "Excuse My Wolof 2: The Ñuulest" was a huge success. Nix is also the co-founder of the pan-African music streaming platform Deedo.
Sarah Diouf
"Delivering a 100% Made in Africa product was a gamble I wanted to take."
Sarah Diouf is a young designer born in France, who settled in Dakar after spending her childhood in Abidjan. Founder of the Tongoro Label, an online sales platform that promotes local Senegalese handicraft production and Made In Africa, Sarah Diouf also runs two magazines, Ghubar and NOIR, as well as "IfrenStudios", a creative agency specialized in visual and digital communication. Beyoncé, Alicia Keys and Naomi Campbell all wear her creations. At only 28, this young serial entrepreneur is sure to become a leading figure in the fashion industry.
