The Rough Guide to the Music of Senegal is a world musiccompilation album originally released in 2013. Part of the World Music NetworkRough Guides series, the release presents an overview of the music of Senegal on Disc One, and contains a "bonus" Disc Two highlighting . The album was compiled by Daniel Rosenberg and was produced by Phil Stanton, co-founder of the World Music Network. Daniel Rosenberg and Rachel Jackson wrote the sleeve notes, and Brad Haynes was coordinator and designer.[1][2]
The album received generally positive reviews. In his review for AllMusic, Chris Nickson wrote that while the compilation "touches on all the major points", it would have benefited from the inclusion of more emerging artists.[2] This was contradicted by Robert Christgau, who described a "strategy of showcasing winners by (...) longtime crossover hopefuls".[3] Steve Horowitz of PopMatters especially praised the second disc, stating that Balde performs with a "tranquil urgency, a seemingly oxymoronic way of simultaneously compelling one to relax and pay attention."[4]
All tracks on Disc Two are performed by . Balde is a member of the Kolda nobility class who established himself in The Gambia. His music has been described as more "folk-like" than the West African dance music better known to Western ears.[6]
