Mamadou "Jimi" Mbaye was born on October 2, 1957, in Dakar, Senegal. He built his first guitar from fishing line and gasoline cans at age ten. By twenty, he acquired a secondhand Fender Stratocaster and began his musical journey with Youssou N'Dour, joining the band Super Étoile from 1979 onwards. Mbaye's distinctive style incorporated traditional African sounds into his electric guitar playing. His solo album Dakar Heart, released in 1997, showcased his inventive guitar work and singing in Wolof, English, and French. He released other solo albums, including Yaye Digalma and Khare Dounya, recorded at his Studio Dogo. Mbaye continued to collaborate extensively with N'Dour throughout his career. He passed away on February 12, 2025, at the age of 67.
