Seyni Diop was born in Dakar, Senegal in 1975, into a large family of artists and musicians. He started playing the guitar at the age of 14 with his father Bello, and was taught bass by his brother-in-law, Itou Dieng. At eighteen he formed his first band, playing regularly in Dakar and soon becoming highly regarded in the music world performing and recording with the big bands of the time. In 1999 he established his own band, TAARA with a group of old friends. After regular gigs, tours and award winning performances in West Africa, Seyni recorded a live album with Fatou Gewel and Youssou N'Dour in 2004. Seyni went onto tour the UK tour with Laye Sow in summer 2004 and Daby Balde in 2006, playing at many festivals including Glastonbury, Womad, Bath International and Marlborough Jazz Festival. Seyni is now based in London, and continues to play and record both world and popular music.

Taara is led by bassist/guitarist/composer Seyni Diop from Dakar, Senegal. The group was founded in 1999 and since then have performed extensively all over West Africa, particularly Senegal, Gambia, Mali and the Djola boat from Dakar to Casamance. Taara began as a group of friends playing music together and over time became one of most renowned bands in Senegal, going onto win The BSDA award from the Department for Culture. The musicians of Taara include Seyni’s father Bello Diop (guitar and vocals) who along with Adama Faye moulded Senegalese music to be what it is today. In his prime he played with musicians from Orchestra Baobab and Orchestra Nationale, and taught Seyni and many young Senegalese musicians to play and love music. The lead vocalist, Mansour Ndiaye, was a talibe - a young child who would go about the city asking people to donate money, food or clothes for their marabou who taught them the Koran. It was then that he started to sing of his life and experiences. Jules Diop, Seyni’s younger brother, brings rap to Taara’s sound and the newest member, Guinean N’deye Sompare who has recently recorded with Guineas renowned Seikou Bembaya, brings her female touch and Guinean flavour to Taara. In 2007 the group recorded their album “Lebonne Lippon” in Dakar and London with guest musicians from Senegal and Europe. They followed its independent release with a UK tour later in the year, performing at the National Theatre on the South Bank as part of the Watch this Space weekend, as well as wowing Bristol audiences at the St Paul’s Carnival. The music is best described as funky afro-acoustic and is inspired by the traditional music of Senegal known as Taara.