I intend to go on a tour in Senegal to hear as much music as possible. Can anyone give me tips on when and where to go or if there are any good tour groups or if its better to travel alone?
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I spent two months in Senegal learning drumming with Baaba Maal's percussionist. I travelled around with the band and of course heard heaps of music and met fantastic talented musicians. I believe the best way to experience a country is to focus on one aspect of that place and learn something about it. It helps you to meet people and being with locals is the only way to go. I met the percussionist at a festival when they were on tour in Australia, so I was lucky.
But you make your own luck. Maybe you have to find the telephone number of a musician and call em up, most people in the cities have a phone in Senegal....tell them what you want. I hope you speak a bit of French. They will love to show you around and will of course want to make some money out of it....this is to be expected and it's only fair. In return, they will help you find cheap accomodation, or offer for you to stay with a family and pay a small amount....you will save money on food and take local transport. You can hang around when they are jamming. Maybe email Stern's Africa (CD company based in London) and ask them if any musicians in Senegal have email. Maybe the radio station in Dakar has email....I know they have internet access there. They are called 7FM. Try organise something before you go there because just turning up might leave you disappointed. It's all about who you know.