Laye Sow is a Fula, from Podor in the Futa Toro region of Northern Senegal, on the Mauritanian border. He was brought up on the African tradition of storytelling through song. He is often described a Muslim mystic. Laye is deeply spiritual, which you can easily hear in all his songs. However he is first and foremost an African, and the rights and wrongs of African society, as well as the weaknesses that create division, consume him. In 2003 Laye's Mbalax band, Jelitara Futa, toured the festivals in the UK. There he met blues guitarist Richard Caswell. This union resulted in a fusion release "Djamano", between Senegalese tradition and American blues. Laye was lead singer with the National Band of Senegal for 3 years. He is cousin of Baaba Maal and they have occasionally collaborated.

Laye was the first act at the Liverpool08 Echo Arena and was featured on the BBC2 Culture Show the next day.

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