Orchestra Baobab is one of Africa's most vibrantly exciting music collectives. For more than five decades, this unique orchestra from Senegal has been creating a groundbreaking fusion of Afro-Latin, pop, folk music and infectiously flowing rhythms. The history of Orchestra Baobab began in Dakar in 1970, where the owners of the new elite nightclub Baobab ensnared members of the leading Star Band to be its in-house variety orchestra. The band then took on the name of the club. Initially the group played Cuban music, but gradually gravitated towards Congolese rumba and Creole melody lines, and local styles found their way into the group’s repertoire as well. Orchestra Baobab celebrated its heyday in the 1970s and performed all over the world. After a lengthy silence, leading label World Circuit motivated the band to return to the studio in 2002. After Covid initially threw a spanner in the works, Orchestra Baobab is now finally able to celebrate its 50th anniversary at NN North Sea Jazz.
