[Portrait] From Youssou Ndour to the series "Dikoon": Cheikh Dieng, the shadow of genius of Senegalese music

A virtuoso guitarist, arranger, and composer of some fifty tracks for the "Dikoon" series performed by Pama Dieng, Cheikh Dieng is also a cultural force, bringing together numerous artists for his flagship event: the Dakar-Basel Festival. A self-taught musician in his early days, the six-string maestro has faced a truly arduous journey, ultimately crowned with success. Thanks to his determination, he has become a leading figure on the Senegalese and international music scene.

Originally from Bâti Khay, on the road to Kaour, a village in Goudomp in the Sédhiou region, Cheikh Dieng is an artist, musician, and composer from a lineage of griots, loyal guardians of the precious xalam (a type of drum). Among the most famous members of the Dieng dynasty is the eminent Sakou Dieng, who left his mark on the Daniel Sorano National Theatre and was the founding father of the renowned village of Medina Sabakh, near the Gambian border. From the age of seven, Cheikh Dieng was immersed in music alongside his uncles, notably the singer Saloum Dieng and the great drum major Modou Seck. This rich heritage doesn't end there: his mother, originally from Fatick, is a renowned singer who accompanied the choir of the celebrated singer Yandé Codou Sène.

Nurtured from childhood by this melodious atmosphere, Cheikh took his first steps in composition without attending music school or benefiting from the tutelage of experienced peers. A true self-taught musician, the prodigy of the Dieng dynasty gathered his friends into a small orchestra to improvise percussion on salvaged materials: pots, sticks, bottles, and jerrycans. It was then that a neighborhood child changed his destiny by showing him a single-stringed guitar, cobbled together from an oil can. This twist of fate struck a chord with the budding artist, who offered his friend his sweets in exchange for the instrument.

Cheikh Dieng, an exceptional self-taught man

A standard guitar has six strings, making it easy for beginners of all ages to learn. Yet, whether by magic or pure artistry, the living embodiment of the proverb "where there's a will, there's a way" manages to play the first notes of Youssou Ndour's iconic song, "Demb," on his simple one-string guitar. A passing Baye Fall, impressed by his determination, helps him get a real guitar, to which Cheikh himself adds makeshift strings made of wire. From then on, the guitar becomes his instrument of choice.

To make his mark in the music industry, the maestro joined several bands thanks to his friend, the late Fallou Niang, who introduced him to Gora Awa Niang, a renowned guitarist and singer. He then stayed with his older sister, Sokhna Dieng, who, to Cheikh's great delight, was the wife of guitarist Pape Oumar Ngom, a famous musician who played with Youssou Ndour. There, he discovered a professional guitar, an amplifier, and an exceptional mentor. Pape Oumar Ngom would mold him into a true professional by bringing him back, after each tour, cassettes and videos of "Super Étoile" and other legendary groups like The Police, Pink Floyd, Sting, and Tracy Chapman… In reality, the young Cheikh dreamed of becoming an accomplished singer-musician, like Ismaël Lô.

Discipline and rigor as weapons to stand out

Highly versatile, the future guitar master also had a passion for football. He played alongside coach Gérard at the Police Academy training center and won the school cup at IASSU with his high school team. But the call of music was stronger, and Cheikh joined singer Lamine Fomba's band, collaborating with renowned professional musicians such as bassist Khadim Thiam, keyboardists Ma Anta Faye and Thierno Camara, and guitarists Ndioba Guèye and Bachir.

It was during the band's final concert in the Mermoz neighborhood square that Cheikh stood out from the crowd. Arriving as early as 3 p.m. for a show scheduled for 7 p.m., he preempted his soundcheck by performing Tracy Chapman's iconic hit, "Fast Car." His performance amazed the locals, who were convinced the concert had already started. This resounding success earned him recognition from his native Greater Dakar.

When Youssou Ndour falls under the spell…

The real turning point came during a Super Étoile concert at the Kilimandjaro venue. During an improvisation session, he borrowed his brother-in-law's guitar and masterfully performed the song "Alboury." Youssou Ndour publicly congratulated him and would henceforth regularly call upon him when Pape Oumar Ngom was unavailable. Subsequently, the maestro collaborated with major names in Senegalese music such as Thione Seck, Coumba Gawlo Seck, Mamadou Maïga, Viviane Chédid, Pape Diouf, Fallou Dieng, Seydina Diop, and Sidy Diop. The "Jololi" label commissioned him to arrange albums for renowned artists like Abdou Guitté Seck and Momo Dieng, while with Pikini Production, he composed and arranged around fifty tracks for the "Dikoon" series, performed by the artist Pama Dieng.

In 1997, he toured Switzerland with Alioune Mbaye Nder and discovered the Winter Tour Festival. Since then, he has divided his time between Senegal and Switzerland. Encouraged to pursue his career by drummer and producer Ousseynou Mbaye, he brought several artists to Switzerland, including Amy Collé Dieng and Abdou Rass. He forged strong relationships with Baye Magatte, Douane Sène, and Patrick Momanko, and then recorded his very first solo track, "Yaye," in the latter's studio.

The Dakar-Basel Festival, a lever for influence and development

Not content to rest on his laurels, the eminent guitarist discovered the Ivorian festival FIMEA and developed a taste for it. Now convinced of the need to create his own event, the soloist drew upon his rich artistic experience to found his company, DIENG'S MUSIC PRODUCTION, and launch the Dakar-Basel Festival from Switzerland in 2022. Conceived as a catalyst for cultural exchange and development, this event blends concerts, dance performances, local product fairs and exhibitions, masterclasses, and musical workshops, all while fostering cultural dialogue between nations. The fifth edition will be held from December 2nd to 6th, 2026, in Dakar and will take place in several cultural venues, including the Blaise-Senghor Cultural Center and other sites in Greater Dakar. The event will bring together numerous celebrities, such as Fallou Dieng, Abdou Thioubalo, Abdou Rass, and Réma Diop, alongside a host of local and international artists.