He passed away on Tuesday at the age of 68 and was laid to rest on Wednesday.
Writing a eulogy for loved ones is never easy, especially for those who have left a lasting impact through their musicianship. Music has an incredible power to connect people and encapsulate the beauty of life.
When it comes to eulogizing a musician, one has a special, heartfelt opportunity to pay tribute to his or her life and unique talents.
So it is with the likes of Pap Touray of the ‘Super Eagles’ of The Gambia and Jimi Mamadou Mbaye of the ‘Super Etoile De Dakar’.
As such, many people are familiar with the music of the ‘Super Etoile’, but not many people are familiar with a guitar genius who contributed significantly to the remarkable success of Youssou Ndour in the music industry.
Yes, behind every great musician are other great musicians in their own rights.
Jimi Mbaye was undoubtedly one of such!
He and Youssou N'dour, together, became rising stars on Senegal's club scene, playing mbalax music. They created the "Super Etoile" band together in 1981 and have been musically inseparable for all these years.
With his instantly recognisable sound and style, Jimi Mamadou Mbaye, together with Youssou ‘Magigen’ Ndour, will remain one of the established and celebrated kings of “Mbalax” musical genre.
Indeed, the ‘Super Etoile’ band had continued to deliver Jimi’s legendary guitar sound and the pulsing “Tamaa” percussion drum of Assane Thiam in spades – and bringing it with an infectious joy that would make one want to smile and even dance.
In all truth, Jimi Mbaye was different from other guitarists because of his unique style.
His guitar riffs were simply fantastic, indeed terrific. Youssou Ndour once said "No one, no one plays guitar like Jimi Mbaye. His playing style is unique".
Undeniably, Jimi Mbaye had succeeded in transposing the African traditional sounds of khalam (Ngoni) and kora onto his electric Fender Stratocaster.
In passing, Carlos Santana and Mbaye met during a tour in Los Angeles where Carlos acknowledged that- "Jimi is a very special and incredible guitarist".
Besides, Jimi Mbaye had also proven to be a good singer, very melodic, a true harmonicist.
A member of Youssou N'Dour's Super Etoile Band since 1979, Mbaye is one of Senegal's most influential guitarists. Often compared to Jimi Hendrix and Robert Johnson, Mbaye has forged a unique blend of traditional Senegalese roots music and American pop and Rhythm and Blues (R&B).
In so being, Jimi Mbaye had been dubbed, and rightly so, as one of Africa's greatest guitarists ever.
May the Almighty forgive Jimi Mamadou Mbaye’s shortcomings, if any and grant him a final eternal and peaceful resting abode in His heavenly blissful Al Jannah.
