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 (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist who served as the President of South Africa, first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1 ...

, Former President of South Africa, and

Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...

. 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 the100th 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 (''Chinese'': 馬友友 ''Ma Yo Yo''; born October 7, 1955) is an American cellist. Born in Paris to Chinese parents and educated in New York City, he was a child prodigy, performing from the age of four and a half. He graduated from ...

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

Colin Powell Colin Luther Powell ( ; April 5, 1937 – October 18, 2021) was an American politician, statesman, diplomat, and United States Army officer who served as the 65th United States Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African ...

, 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 sus ...

. 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 Original Love (オリジナル・ラブ) is a Japanese music band and project by Takao Tajima. The band was formed in 1986 with four members, but since 1995 they have been a solo project for Takao Tajima. They were nominated in the 1994 MTV V ...

and

Naoto Inti Raymi , better known by his stage name , is a Japanese singer-songwriter and composer. He was born in Mie Prefecture in Japan and later grew up in Chiba Prefecture. For two years from 2001, he used his given name Naoto as his stage name. In 2001, whil ...

. 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 ( ; ja, 安倍晋三, Hepburn romanization, Hepburn: , ; 21 September 1954 – 8 July 2022) was a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Liberal Democratic Party (Japan), President of the Lib ...

during TICAD IIV meeting. Latyr is talented not only as percussionist and singer, but also as song writer 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 is a Japanese actress and former model. She was an exclusive model for the Japanese ''Seventeen'' magazine from late 2003 to mid-2006, and quit modeling when she left the magazine. Her first acting role was Sailor Mars in the Sailor Moon live act ...

, 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 is a Japanese singer and songwriter from Mihara city in Hiroshima Prefecture. She presently belongs to Cutting Edge. Discography Singles * ''Orange'' (1999) * ''Beat Goes On and The'' (1999) * ''Town to Town'' (2000) * ''One Blood (import)' ...

*''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 21st-century Senegalese male singers Wolof-language singers English-language singers from Senegal French-language singers Senegalese drummers 21st-century drummers