Legendary Senegal singer, Balla Sidibe is dead

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Senegalese singer Balla Sidibe, a founding member of the legendary Orchestra Baobab which ruled the airwaves during the 1970s is dead. 

He died Wednesday in Dakar, the country’s musical association said.

Orchestra Baobab’s unique blend of Cuban rhythms, soul and jazz, along with traditional sounds drawn from across the African continent, made them one of the most successful groups to emerge from the time.

Sidibe was in his sixties and died in his sleep “after a very full day of rehearsals with his musical comrades”, the association said in a statement, adding that it had lost “a father, a sage and a friend”.

Local media however said he died after “a short illness”, without giving further details.