Wally Seck

Wally Ballago Seck was born on April 27, 1985 in Dakar, Senegal. Although he developed a passion for soccer at an early age and wanted to make a career out of it, the harshness of training centers forced him to return home, where he gradually turned to music. It was his father, Thione Seck, who first pushed him into the business: a well-known Senegalese singer, he offered Wally the chance to accompany his group Le Raam Daan. Wally Seck developed a taste for songwriting, and in 2007 decided to go it alone. His single "Bo-Dioudo " was a big hit in Senegal, and the singer, who modernized mbalax music, made his mark on the Senegalese scene. Wally Seck made a name for himself in 2010 with his debut album Voglio, a reference to his time in Italy in his youth, and in 2012 with a second album, Louné. Nicknamed "El Phenomeno", the Dakar-born singer sold out venues including the capital's prestigious Grand Théâtre National. While his concert at the Zenith in Paris sold out in 2014, he won the title of Man of the Year awarded by the Observatoire de la Musique et des Arts the same year, then unveiled a 21-track third album the following year. Entitled Xel, the new songs, including "Paradise" and "Mame Boye", confirm the major place occupied by its author. Now a national figure, sometimes dubbed the "Senegalese Justin Bieber", his songs attract millions of fans. After Paris Bercy in 2016 and a fourth album, Symphonie, in 2018, his fame became international. As he looks to broaden his horizons on a future album, tracks and EPs are released, such as Afromix and Afromix 2, on which Wally Seck takes a more pop approach. This was followed by collaborations with international stars: Jason Derulo on "Jour De Fête" and Chris Brown on "Paris Fever".