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BioXalam, originally the "African Khalam Orchestra," was founded in 1969 in Senegal. Named after the Xalam, a traditional lute-like instrument, the band blended contemporary jazz with African mbalax, sung mainly in Wolof. Their lineup included saxophones, drums, African percussion, bass, and electric guitar. After touring with Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba in 1975, Xalam took a four-year break to explore traditional folk music and infuse it into their modern sound. They achieved acclaim with albums like "Gorée" (1983) and "Apartheid" (1986). Tragedy struck in 1988 with the loss of leader Prosper Niang, but they continued, releasing an international album in 1993. In 2015, Xalam returned with a long-awaited album, remaining active with occasional performances.
DiscographyWaxati2015 • AlbumTracks: 12 2a@Z2009 • AlbumTracks: 30 Wam Sabindam1993 • AlbumTracks: 12 Nitou Tey1988 • AlbumTracks: 9 Apartheid1986 • AlbumTracks: 8 Gorée1984 • AlbumTracks: 6 