Artists | Thiès Art

Talents

Our Artists

Aziz Diagne

Master Artist & Cultural Ambassador

Aziz Diagne is a multidisciplinary artist with over four decades of dedicated practice. For him, art is not a choice but a fundamental way of understanding and engaging with the world. Born in Thiès, Senegal, he has devoted his career to preserving and evolving his country's artistic heritage while expanding it through contemporary approaches. Working across intaglio printmaking, reverse painting on glass, mixed-media collage, and painting, Diagne combines traditional craftsmanship with technical innovation. His development of the Thiessoise Technique reflects his ability to reinterpret historical methods into a modern visual language. His work explores memory, material, and transformation, often reusing elements from past creations to build layered, meaningful compositions. Alongside his studio practice, he is committed to teaching and mentorship, continuing to pass on knowledge while shaping contemporary artistic expression.

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Ma Sané

Afro-fusion singer

Born in Thiès, Ma Sané is considered one of the most beautiful voices of Afro-fusion in Senegal. She marked the history of national music by becoming, from 1990, the charismatic lead vocalist of the legendary neighborhood group WaFlash from Thiès. A true stage performer, she managed to establish herself in a very masculine universe by mixing traditional mbalax rhythms with jazz, rock, and world music influences. After a period of retreat in Europe, she began a remarkable solo comeback, carried by a powerful voice and an unforgettable stage presence.

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Meeriam (Mariama)

Hip-hop, soul and R&B singer

Born on February 3, 1994, in Thiès, Mariama (stage name Meeriam) embodies the new generation of artists from the Railway City. Passionate about music since her studies at Collège Saint Gabriel in Thiès, she draws her influences from Lauryn Hill, Aretha Franklin, and Youssou N'Dour. She began her career in 2012 with the Thiès hip-hop collective Xatim Xol Records with the single "Dina Bakh," today mixing urban, soul, and R&B sounds. Her versatile voice and committed songwriting make her one of the revelations of the contemporary Senegalese music scene.

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Ndèye Seck "Signature"

Griotte singer

Born Mamadou Mamour Seck, this great griotte singer based in Thiès passed away in May 2020 at the age of 73. Recognized for her enchanting voice and integrity, she marked Senegalese traditional music by publishing in 1995 her fetish title "Signature," dedicated to her friend Amy Balla Tall. Her music was based on the use of pure traditional instruments such as the xalam, sabars, calabash, and tama. Heir to a long griotic tradition, she managed to transmit the history and values of her people through timeless melodies.

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Souleymane Guèye, dit "Jules Guèye"

Multi-instrumentalist & composer

A native of Thiès, Jules Guèye is a virtuoso multi-instrumentalist (trumpet, flute, guitar) and a great master of music theory. Having dropped out of secondary school early to live his passion, he spent a dozen years at the Dakar Conservatory of Music under the wing of Russian teachers. A former footballer for US Rail de Thiès, he is renowned for his intellectual vision of art, defending a calm and spiritual listening to music rather than solely danceable. His pedagogical approach and musical rigor have trained many Senegalese musicians.

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Abdoulaye Ndiaye, dit "Ablaye Ndiaye Thiossane"

Singer, actor & visual artist

This monument of Senegalese culture passed away in May 2022 at the age of 86 in Thiès. A total artist, he was a singer (notably within the legendary Royal Band of Thiès), author of the historical song "Taal leen làmp" awarded at FESMAN 1966, but also a talented actor and visual artist. He painted remarkable scenes of traditional Senegalese life on cardboard. His commitment to preserving Thiossane culture and his versatile talent make him an emblematic figure of 20th-century Senegalese art.

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Papa Ibra Tall

Visual artist & tapestry maker

Born in 1935 and died in 2015, Papa Ibra Tall is one of the major pillars of visual arts in Africa. A leading figure of the Dakar School alongside Senghor, he directed the Plastic Research Section before becoming the very first director of the Senegalese Manufactures of Decorative Arts (MSAD) of Thiès from their creation in 1966. His style is characterized by curved, dynamic, and mystical lines, celebrating Pan-Africanism. His monumental tapestries have radiated Senegalese art on the international scene.

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Seydina A. B. GNING

Expert in digital ecosystems & multimedia production

An expert in digital ecosystems and multimedia production for over a decade, Seydina Alioune does not view technology as a mere tool, but as a fundamental lever for deciphering and transforming the modern world. Originally from Thiès, he has built his career on a clear vision: to perpetuate creative heritage while propelling it into the digital age. Founder of his own structure 'GSC MULTIMEDIA' in 2021, he has established himself as a trusted strategic partner, successfully accompanying many leaders, artists, large companies and SMEs in their digital transformation. His multidisciplinary expertise, ranging from website and application creation to complex digital marketing, is based on a fusion between traditional know-how and breakthrough innovation. Beyond technical execution, he is fully committed to mentoring and consulting, transmitting his strategic vision to shape the future of the digital landscape.

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