Coumba Gawlo
#329,348 Most Popular
About
Celebrated Senegalese singer-songwriter best known for her work within the mbalax genre. She earned international fame with her rendition of the Afro-pop dance song "Pata Pata." She also went on to release albums that would achieve double gold certification in Belgium and platinum in France.
Before Fame
She released albums like "Seytané" in the 1990s, gaining national acclaim in Senegal before rising to international prominence. Her 1998 rendition of "Pata Pata" brought her widespread recognition across francophone Europe, earning both strong chart success and high record sales.
Trivia
When she was 14 years old, she won the "Voix d'Or du Sénégal" contest with a song her father had written as a tribute to Nelson Mandela called "Soweto."
Family Life
Her mother, Fatou Kiné Mbaye, is a singer while her father, Laye Bamba Seck, was a writer and composer. Her parents encouraged her creative exploration from a young age. She has three adopted daughters named Rokhaya, Dior, and Perle.
Associated With
Her 1998 rendition of the song "Pata Pata" featured French artist Patrick Bruel.
