Former Orchestra Baobab Member Cheikh Ibra Fam’s New Single
“Xam Xam” is the first track from the upcoming album “Adouna” (“Life”) by Senegalese artist Cheikh Ibra Fam, former singer of Orchestra Baobab, to be released in October 2025 on the Cumbancha label. This song speaks about knowledge, heritage, and hope for the future. It is infused with the hypnotic rhythm of Caribbean zouk and Angolan kizomba, the ethereal strings of the kora, and the soul of West Africa. It’s a call to embrace knowledge as the most precious treasure of all.
Cheikh Ibra Fam’s journey—both geographical and musical—has taken him far beyond his native town of Mbour, Senegal. Raised in a family where art, poetry, and storytelling were the heartbeat of daily life, he grew up absorbing everything from the spiritual choirs of Kourels to the Afro-Cuban rhythms of Orchestra Aragón and the soulful voice of Otis Redding. His uncle, the celebrated guitarist Coly Cisse, who played alongside Youssou N’Dour, ignited Cheikh’s passion for performance.
From his teenage singing in the bathroom to touring the world with Orchestra Baobab (2017-2023), and now forging his own path, Cheikh’s story is one of resilience, curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to his roots.
“Xam Xam” reflects this journey—one that spans from the bustling streets of Dakar to the recording studios of The Gambia, France, Reunion Island (where he currently resides), and the United States. This single features Cheikh Ibra on vocals and composition, Coly Cisse on guitar and bass, Ansoumane on kora, Jacob Edgar on trumpet, and Hakim Abdulsamad (The Boys, Akon) handling the arrangements and production.
During busy evenings in Dakar, when electricity flickered and the world darkened, Coly Cisse would sit outside, guitar in hand, playing melodies that carried through the night. A young Cheikh Ibra Fam would sit at his feet, eyes wide, ears attuned to every note, unknowingly absorbing the lessons that would shape his future. Years later, that boy has become an internationally celebrated musician, and those lessons are the foundation of his new single, “Xam Xam,” a tribute to the wisdom passed down to him. The title of this song, which means “knowledge” in Wolof, is not just a reflection on learning—it’s an ode to the power of wisdom, to the teachers who shape us, and the journeys we undertake to find understanding.
In a world where people search for meaning in distant places, “Xam Xam” reminds us that sometimes the greatest wisdom is found in the voices of our elders, in the traditions of our ancestors, and in the stories of those who came before us.
With this single, Cheikh Ibra Fam sets the stage for “Adouna,” an album that explores themes of migration, love, faith, and the universal human search for meaning. In the coming year, he will embark on a global tour, with dates to be announced, bringing his message of music, memory, and movement to audiences worldwide.
The single is accompanied by a video that illustrates the song’s central message. Filmed in the picturesque city of Saint-Louis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located at the mouth of the Senegal River, this colorful and uplifting video features contemporary dancer Zahra.
