[1] Seck was born into the griot caste, traditionally of low status and associated with singing, story telling and playing musical instruments.
From childhood, Seck has been a close friend of Baaba Maal, and in 1977 the two musicians travelled to explore the musical traditions of Mauritania and Mali.
They formed a band which became known as Dande Lenol (The People's Voice) and played mainly to the Senegalese immigrant communities of Paris.
As their confidence grew, they toured in the US together with Seck's first solo release coming in 1994.
Mansour Seck played alongside Baaba Maal as part of Dande Lenol at the WOMAD Festival at Charlton Park on 29 July 2007.