Biography

Batch Gueye

Biography

Batch is a West-African Griot, a storyteller through his music and dance. His mother, grandmother, and those before them had been singers.

Singing Baye Fall chants is where Batch found his voice. Batch’s songs are about life experiences: about travel, immigration, places he has lived in and people he met and is grateful to. His songs also talk about feelings such as love and jealousy combined with life wisdom, teaching to be good to oneself, respect others, to listen, to trust and to have faith in life.

Batch sings his songs in the Senegalese language Wolof. However, language does not obstruct his music. The passion Batch has can be heard in his soulful voice and understood by all.

Batch’s energy as a dancer is as vibrant and colourful as the patchwork clothes of his BayeFall people. Like his music, his dance style is a collection of both traditional and modern African cultures, and his combination of strong and fast movement promises to be a striking display.

Batch’s sincerity as a singer is equal to the energy he brings as a dancer, a man of many talents – You can trust that Batch will never fail to amaze!

Batch Gueye Band have played at various music festivals, including WOMAD, Glastonbury, WOMEX, Shambala, Drum Camp, Jazz Fest, World Music Festival, Boom Town etc. Batch features (vocals) in BBC Natural World Africa, Music by William Goodchild and narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

Batch Gueye is a man of many talents. We think that Batch has what you are looking for in your event: being able to offer music performance, dance workshops, singing workshops, drum workshops and story-telling.

BATCH GUEYE BAND

  • Batch Gueye, Band manager, singer, songwriter, guitarist & dancer
  • Ben WJ Woodward, Guitar
  • Dave Wallace, Bass guitar
  • Jan Jisa, Drum kit
  • Oumar Sagna, Djembe and vocals
  • Pricilla Andersohn, Vocals
  • Stefano Vandelli, Kora, n’goni and vocals

Batch Gueye Band makes for an amazing and energetic live performance! The band has played in various large events including the WOMAD festival, Glastonbury Festival, Houston Festival in the US; and Globalitica Festival in Warsaw, Poland to name a few.

Fb Img 1658248996715

Milestones

  • In Senegal, Batch Gueye was taught in traditional Senegalese Dance at the Centro Cultural Regional Blaise Senghor, Dakar, Senegal. Batch studied and mastered traditional Baye Fall song in Diourbel, Senegal. By age 16, Batch ran his own dance company Group Assane Thiam and performed for many famous Senegalese artists including Youssou N’Dour, Baaba Maal, Cheikh Lo, and Coumba Gawlo.
  • In 2008 he won the Senegalese selection for the hit dance show “Afrika!Afrika!” bringing him to Europe as professional dancer.
  • 2011 Batch Gueye turned to music – self-taught in voice, guitar and percussion.
  • 2012 Batch Gueye’s song “M’Beugel” wins the World Music Network’s Battle of the Bands Competition. The track is also included on the collection album titled “The Best African Music You’ve Never Heard”
  • 2012 Batch Gueye releases his first EP with 4 songs.
  • 2012 Batch Gueye starts as lead singer for Fofoulah (ongoing). Batch is percussionist and lead vocalist for Fofoulah, a band whose name means “It’s right there” in Wolof. This band has the rhythms of the Sabar drums at its heart, Fofoulah’s music incorporates elements of electronic music, dub, Improvisation and afro-rock. From London, Senegal and the Gambia, Fofoulah’s music is shaped and lifted by diverse sound-worlds and cultures.
  • 2014 Batch Gueye releases his first album Ndiarigne which received an incredible “Four Star” rating by Songlines Magazine. 
  • 2015 Batch Gueye features (vocals) in BBC Natural World Africa’s Fishing Leopards, Music by William Goodchild and narrated by Sir David Attenborough.
  • 2017 Batch Gueye releases his second album Xamle.
  • 2019 Batch Gueye releases his third album Moytou.
  • 2021 Batch Gueye is awarded the prestigious award Best Artist in the Diaspora at Raaya Musique Awards 2021
  • 2022 Sabar Family’s Workshop Series and Festival “Come Together As One”  is awarded Outstanding Contribution to the Community by One Dance UK in Black History Month
  • 2023 Batch is awarded MOBO Grant by Help Musicians
Wenpage Dancing

Videos and Live Performaces