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FRIDAY

Senegalese Mbalax music can sound jarring at first: Its galloping polyrhythmic drumbeats don’t seem to follow any consistent pattern, and the high-pitched wail of the singer resembles the vocal acrobatics of a muezzin. But thanks to Youssou N’Dour, and now Alioune Mbaye Nder and his Setsima Band, the style’s unique rhythmic grooves and passionate emoting are becoming part of many a sonic diet. Nder—a dancer and percussionist in his childhood—first emerged as a singer in the early ’90s as a member of Lemzo Diamano, which released an album produced by N’Dour. The son of a griot, Nder formed his own group in 1995 and has recorded a number of albums that are hard to find (outside Senegal), whose songs have reportedly inspired new dance steps throughout Dakar. The band performs at 9 p.m. at 2:K:9, 2009 8th St. NW. $25-$50. (202) 575-2009. (Steve Kiviat)