Music of the Animal Kingdom Lodge: Afrika Wassa by Vieux Diop

Songs from the album Afrika Wassa by Vieux Diop are played regularly at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Our most recent stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge was early 2018, but the overall vibe sticks with me. A primary reason is the music, which brings me back to those trips whenever I listen to the background loop. That feeling has only increased as I’ve discovered more with this project. This week’s artist is no different; the music of Vieux Diop fits perfectly inside the resort. He plays the kora, a 21-stringed instrument common in West Africa. He actually performed at EPCOT in the American Gardens Theatre during a series of shows back in 2003.

Diop hails from Senegal and moved to New York City in the early 1980s. He had studied music in Dakar and continued to develop his style in the U.S. on the kora, which is similar to a harp. His four albums began with Deesso in 1993 and also include Vieux Diop (Via Jo) and Traditional Songs of West Africa. The music that plays at the Animal Kingdom Lodge comes from his fourth album, Afrika Wassa. On the 11 songs, Diop sings in multiple languages from Senegal plus English and French. The album’s calming vibe perfectly captures how I feel in the resort.

A Wonderful Mix of Influences

Beginning with a slow drum beat, “C On” slowly draws you in with a call-and-response style. Translated as The Path, the song includes excellent background vocals that mesh well with Diop’s voice. It also employs the fiddling of Irish artist Eileen Ivers, who’s an accomplished Celtic musician on her own. This mix of Western influences and a traditional sound is prominent throughout this album. Diop uses his interest in classic R&B artists to create an original style that stands out in this spiritual song.

The kora takes center stage in “Mom’s Jam”, an instrumental that opens with the beautiful traditional sound. I can’t think of a better song to play in the background while enjoying a drink in the Jambo House lobby after a day at the parks. Afrika Wassa concludes with “Nio Kolo Koba”, which translates as Senegalese Wildlife Preserve. The mix of instruments fits perfectly with the resort’s naturalistic atmosphere. In a similar vein to “Mom’s Jam”, this track is relaxing but lively enough to keep us moving.

Diop does an excellent job promoting his musical culture and led a musical series with the Julliard School of Music in New York. He also hosted the WBAI FM radio show Musical Conversations, which focused on world music. His songs fit perfectly inside the Animal Kingdom Lodge, but there’s a lot more to his story. After reading this article and checking out his songs at Walt Disney World, I hope you give Diop’s music a closer listen. I promise that you won’t be disappointed.