Tell us about Ziggy Bey Jan.

I started my career at the age of 14 performing with my family, Le Guewel Diagne Group. I am a master of the sabar drums, the djembe, and the tama (talking drum), and a singer and kora player. I have played and toured internationally (throughout Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, the USA and Canada, Australia and New Zealand) for 10 years in the Baaba Maal band as a drummer, dancer and choreographer before settling in Perth. I have also performed in Senegal with other renowned world music artists such as Youssour Ndour, Omar Pene and Cheikh N'Digel Lo, and have taken part in numerous recordings with artists such as Baaba Maal, Ernest Raglin and Assane Thiam (of Youssour Ndour's Super Etoile Group and regarded by many as the world's number one talking drum player). I am a musical mentor, having imparted my skills, knowledge and experience to many musicians who have become forefront in the music arena.

Both locally and interstate, I have been a constant presence in the music scene, performing regularly at prestigious festivals and venues and collaborating both in recording and performance with many Australian artists, including Grace Barbe, Saritah, Funkalleros, Dunumba, Akwaaba, Shangara Jive, Beleza, Cornucopia, Safara and Afro Mandinko with King Marong, and Lamine Sonko. I am launching my album 'Senegal Down Under' with my band Ziggy New Generation on the 24th of April at the Fly By Night Club. This release follows 'African Seeds in Australian Soil' (Ngewell Kora: 2007) and 'Family' (Afrique Acoustic: 2002).

You’re a long way from Senegal in West Africa, how is your music accepted here in Australia?

My music has been and continues to be very well received in Australia. Within a couple of years of arriving in Australia, I was given a Wami award in the World category for my song Mame Cheikh Ibrahim Fal, a song of prayer named after a leader of the Muslim religion in Senegal. I have been invited continually to perform at festivals both locally and interstate and have received letters of appreciation for my performances. Of course, nothing compares to the immediate feedback I get from the crowd when performing: the  expressions on people's faces and the way they listen and dance to the music tells a story like no other and is the ultimate inspiration.

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Performing the fusion of Afro jazz, African, Salsa, Latin, Reggae, Funk, Rap and Jazz requires some high energy, where do you get it from?

I was born to it. This is true, about the high energy it requires. My father taught me how to sing, dance and how to play musical instruments. He is a well known griot in Senegal. I am what is called in Senegal a griot. Griots tell the stories of their culture through music, song and dance, and this skill is passed on through family lines. So I was in training since the day I arrived in this world. I began performing with my family, Le Guewel Diagne Group, at the age of 14. At the same time I began touring as a dancer with local musicians. Several years later, Baba Maal, now the renowned international world music icon, spotted me while performing and enlisted me in his band, which at the time was just emerging on the local Senegalese music scene. What followed was backing by worldwide record company Island Records (of Bob Marley ilk) and international touring for a decade. I shared the stage with the likes of Carlos Santana, Cheb Khaled, Lucky Dube, Salif Kieta, Youssour Ndour, Ziggy Marley, Umu Sangare, Koffi Olomide and Femi Kuti among other well known artists. Basically, I 've been performing all my life and I am fortunate that what I do has a richness to it in that I can sing and dance and play a lot of instruments: kora, sabar, djembe, tama, guitar and mbira, and I am very thankful to my father for teaching me what I know.

After years of performing what does launching your debut CD “Senegal Down Under” mean to you?

This is the debut CD for Ziggy New Generation {I have released two albums prior to this: 'African Seeds in Australian Soil' (Ngewell Kora: 2007) and 'Family' (Afrique Acoustic: 2002)}. It means a lot to me. I began the process with Ziggy Bey Jan Group in 2001. I have recently renamed the band Ziggy New Generation in the lead up to the CD Launch to reflect the fresh material and a different line up (with some original members). I'm very thankful to all the people involved who have put their passion, time, effort and resources into making it happen. I am very fortunate to be in this country and to be among such people. 'Senegal Down Under' in title and in the body of the work is witness to that.

What’s in store for you over the next 18 months?

Keep on playing music. So watch out!

What do you think of the Western Australian live music industry?

It's good to be in Western Australia. There are many good bands and musicians. There is a real warmth of appreciation among audiences of live music, and a community spirit within the industry. Western Australia is host to healthy and vibrant festivals, and music events that allow families and people of all ages to come together and share in the joy of music.   

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