The sound of Senegaland a cry for Africa

SAN FRANCISCO -- Senegalese singer-guitarist Baaba Maal may be a superstar on the world-music stage, but his role as a youth emissary for the United Nations is never far from his heart.

At a recent show here, opened with a set of traditional Fulani songs featuring his acoustic guitar and soaring vocals, Maal amplified the evening's emotional pitch with brief statements about the importance of the West helping Africa fight HIV/AIDS and supporting education for young Africans.

For Maal, who performs at the Somerville Theatre tonight, the solution isn't throwing money at the crises, it's holding governments accountable.

``The power is here in America," Maal said after the show. ``The technology is here, and the media is very very important. Sometimes these governments are very corrupt, because they think the rest of the world is not watching or seeing what they're doing. But if Americans talk about it, if everyone is a witness to whether they're doing good or bad, they're going to be more careful."

Long before he became a goodwill ambassador for the UN, Maal was expanding awareness of Senegal's musical culture by blending traditional forms with rhythms and cadences drawn from throughout West Africa and America.

He explains his creative stance by pointing toward his upbringing. As a member of the Pulaar-speaking Fula ethnic group, a historically nomadic Muslim people scattered across the continent from Senegal to Somalia, Maal absorbed a wealth of musical styles without having to leave his homeland.

``When you're Fulani, your mind is open," Maal said. ``You're open to other ethnic groups and every kind of music you hear. James Brown was the first American black music that came to Africa for my generation. It's something I really appreciate and I think has an impact on what I'm playing when I'm onstage."

African-American music has continued to exert a particularly powerful pull. Maal has spent some time in the United States recently , working on a new album that will feature the Roots, marking his first foray into hip-hop. Drawn to the group by its kinetic live performances, Maal wanted to explore ways to bring up-and-coming West African artists together with American musicians.

SAMPLE BAABA MAAL Check out audio clips at www.boston.com/clips.

``It would be interesting to put these two things together to see what's going to happen, especially now that hip-hop has become very big in Africa," Maal said. ``It's to build a bridge connecting Africa with what's going on in the United States."

Dakar, Senegal's capital, already boasts a hip-hop scene that is starting to gain notice in the States, particularly since the US release of Daara J's album ``Boomerang." Combining rap with traditional instruments, African hip-hop artists are using the music to talk about the many crises facing African society, from corruption and HIV/AIDS to ethnic strife and poverty. Using music to discuss a community's issues is a practice that itself can be traced to Africa.

``This kind of hip-hop is going to be the future of African urban music," Maal said. ``The fact that people like Daara J have started to use African languages with modern beats, drums and bass, but keeping it very African, I think this is great. The young kids can come and discover the music from the States, [and] at the same time they hear the lyrics in the language they're speaking at home. They hear the message the rappers want to tell to their parents, or the community or the leaders."

Baaba Maal & Daande Lenol perform tonight at 8 at the Somerville Theatre. Tickets $25-$35. Call 617-876-4275 or visit www.worldmusic.org.