Laye Ananas Biography
The lions of Senegal are formed by Mr. A.Dieng, ambassador of culture of Senegal. He was born as a Griot from Dakar.
He performed with Youssou N’Dour, Ismael Lo, Coumba Gaolo Seck, Senemali, Nene Cheri, Germain Jackson (brother of Micheal Jackson) and Carlos Santana.
He also helped many artists in Senegal to believe in themselves through culture.
He has been nominated as advisor of the mayor of Dakar.
He was congratulated by the President of Senegal, the Minister of Culture.
The dutch Ministry of Justice department has found him a very special artist in the Netherlands.

Before giving me a Dutch passport they investigated in Europe if they could find someone like me to bring Senegalese Culture to the Netherlands, but could not find anybody else. So they decided to let me become a citizen of the Netherlands.
After I became a Dutch citizen I am the official company in Holland to represent the Senegalese Culture.

My job in Holland is teaching the dutch people dance and drumming in the African tradition, especially from Senegal.
The Lions have been formed by me in 1999.
I formed auditions. More then 500 artists came from all over Senegal and Gambia.

Each one performed 30 minutes after that I picked 31 of the best artists, drummers, dancers, singer, acrobats, fire eaters, broken glass dancers and nail dancers, men and women.


You can find an interview with me here
Laye Ananas Curiculum Vitae
Abdoulaye Dieng (aka Laye Ananas)

Ambassador of culture for Senegal; creator/manager of Lions Of Africa; teacher and choreographer of traditional african dance and percussion.

Collaborations

Performances with Youssou N’Dour, Ismael Lo,Coumba Gaolo Seck, Senemali and Nene Cheri.
Worked with Germain Jackson, Jackson dancers and Carlos Santana.

Achievements

Nominated as advisor to the mayor of Dakar.
Rewarded and congratulated by Senegal President and Minister of Culture.
Named official ambassador of senegalese culture in Holland, after becoming an official citizen of The Netherlands.
Participated in Abdoulaye Wade's presidential victory, in his 1999 election campaign.
Supporting and recruiting artists in Senegal/Africa.
Teaching traditional african dance, acrobatics and percussion.
Forming Lions of Africa.
Successfully carrying Lions of Africa across Europe for the past 16 years.
Performing and welcoming royal and political figures to Senegal, with Lions of Africa
(now official greeters for ceremonial welcomes).
   These authority figures include:
   -Mohammed VI, Morocco
   -President George W. Bush, United States
   -President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, Gambia
Invitations to all important festivals, opening ceremonies, and celebratory events in Senegal.
Renown festival performances and workshops the globe.

Tours and performances outside Africa

Gambia, Mauretania, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Tunis, Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso in 2000.
Belgium tour, 2001, after special invite by Bureau Pimpernel (2000).
The Netherlands, 2002-2003, after a Bidiiw Productions invite, Amsterdam.
Oreol Festival, The Netherlands, 2004.
Odoorn Cioff Festival, The Netherlands, 2005.
Arhus Festival, Denmark.
European Festival Paderborn, Germany, 2007.
Mela Festival, Norway, 2007.
Rencontres de Folklores Internationales, Switzerland, 2007.
Arhus Festival and various festival tour, Denmark, 2007.

Current & up-coming projects

Workshops in Germany, November 2007.
Black Dance Festival, Austria, November 2007.
Mikolaijki Folkowe Lublin, Poland, December 2007.
Tentative Scandinavian tour, 2008.
Canadian festival tour, summer 2008.


download the cv as a pdf
Bansah, the King of Ghana. He was in Amsterdam and saw the posters of the Lions. He looked me up and invited me to participate in his birthday with a lot of foreign authorities, like for instance Helmut Kohl.
Ogo Diagne. He died in 2003. Ogo was a member of the lions and one of the best percussionists of Senegal. He toured with us in Holland. His father is replacing him now in the group. He left 2 children with his wife behind, that's why we want to donante 25% of our tour income to his family. There will be a benefit concert for him in Dakar around september 2008. The picture was taken at Melkweg, Amsterdam in 2002.
Bejo. He was a salsa dance teacher from Curacao. He passed away in 2001. We're doing a memorial concert in our tour.
My students from the Citicentre Dance Theatre in Oakland.
Project with Ronald Snijders. He's going to join our new albums in 2008.
Jackson. He is our female dancer. He's coming to join us this year in our tour. The picture was taken at Melkweg, Amsterdam in 2002.