Latyr Sy is a Senegalese singer and percussionist based in Tokyo.

Biography

Born on September 12, 1972, on t he island of Goree, a world heritage site off the coast of Dakar in Senegal, West Africa, Latyr Sy began playing African drums,

djembe A djembe or jembe ( ; from Maninka language, Malinke ''jembe'' , N'Ko script, N'Ko: ) is a rope-tuned skin-covered goblet drum played with bare hands, originally from West Africa. According to the Bambara people in Mali, the name of the djembe ...

, at a young age. Recognized for his extraordinary talent as a percussionist, he made his mark initially in Senegal at official VIP ceremonies for such as Thatcher, Former British Prime Minister, Mitterrand, Former President of France,

Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela ( , ; born Rolihlahla Mandela; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist and politician who served as the first president of South Africa f ...

, Former President of South Africa, and

Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 16 October 1978 until Death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, his death in 2005. In his you ...

. Immediately after arriving in Japan in 1995, he performed with Shonosuke Okura (a holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property, Noh musician) in Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Harbin and Shanghai. In 1998, together with Ikue Asazaki, he traveled to Cuba to give a performance at a celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Japanese Immigration to Cuba. He visited France, Germany and Egypt as well for a tour organized by Kiyohiko Semba (Japanese Hayashi music performer, percussionist) in 2000. Soon after performing with Mannojo Nomura (Kyogen performer) at a concert held in the Republic of Korea in 2002, they were invited to the Silk Road Festival produced by

Yo-yo Ma Yo-Yo Ma (born October 7, 1955) is a French-born American Cello, cellist. Born to Chinese people, Chinese parents in Paris, he was regarded as a child prodigy there and began to study the cello with his father at age four. At the age of seven, ...

in Washington.D.C, opened by former US Secretary of State

Colin Powell Colin Luther Powell ( ; – ) was an Americans, American diplomat, and army officer who was the 65th United States secretary of state from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African-American to hold the office. He was the 15th National Security ...

, at the

Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage The Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage (CFCH) is one of three cultural centers within the Smithsonian Institution in the United States. Its motto is "culture of, by, and for the people", and it aims to encourage understanding and cultural sust ...

. He traveled likewise in Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti and Vietnam with renowned artists such as Yas-Kaz (percussionist) and Kaiji Moriyama (dancer) for performances organized by Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan. In Japan as well, he has been performing onstage with big-name artists such as Takako Shirai, ORIGINAL LOVE and Naoto Inti Raymi. In August 2019, he demonstrated his impregnable position as the best African percussionist in Japan by being invited to perform at the official dinner graced with the presence of Emperor and Empress, hosted by Prime Minister

Shinzo Abe Shinzo Abe (21 September 1954 – 8 July 2022) was a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Liberal Democratic Party (Liberal Democratic Party (Japan), LDP) from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020. ...

during TICAD IIV meeting. Latyr is talented not only as percussionist and singer, but also as songwriter and actor. His work on commercial includes ASICS, Daiwa House, Toyota Tsusho, YAMAHA, National Geographic, UNIQLO, etc. Having also appeared in the TV shows such as Schola (NHK), FNS Music Festival (Fuji TV) and ZIP (Nihon TV), he made his first film appearances on “ HIBANA” followed by “Punk Samurai Slash Down” co-starring with

Go Ayano is a Japanese actor. Career Ayano was featured in several roles beginning in 2003. In 2009, he appeared in Takashi Miike's ''Crows Zero 2''. His role in the film was described by Mark Schilling of ''The Japan Times'' as "a tall, pale-faced, deli ...

, Keiko Kitagawa, etc.

Discography

;with Flying Rhythms *''Flying Rhythms'' (2004) *''Doragon Balls'' (2004) *''N'DANKA N'DANKA'' (2005) *''Rhythm Connection'' (2005) *''Do The Waves'' (2006) *''Specialoose Fly'' (2006) ;with Rourou *''Lotus Lotus Lotus'' (2004) ;with Leyona *''Rainy Blue'' (2006) ;with The Tchiky's *'' The Tchiky's'' (2011)

References

CNN: Stunning opener kicks off World Cup

External links

* https://latyrsy.com/en/ {{DEFAULTSORT:Sy, Latyr 1972 births Living people Musicians from Dakar Senegalese emigrants to Japan 21st-century Senegalese male singers Wolof-language singers English-language singers from Senegal French-language singers of Senegal Senegalese drummers 21st-century drummers