Orchestra Baobab - Annie & The Caldwells

ORCHESTRA BAOBAB founded in 1970 in Dakar, is a legendary band and a pillar of African music; originally inspired by Afro-Cuban rhythms, they developed a distinctive sound fusing Mandinka, Wolof, and Serer traditions with Latin influences.
After a golden era and a celebrated revival in the 2000s, the band continues to evolve, and in April 2025, they released a live EP capturing the raw energy of recent performances, offering a preview of their upcoming album Made In Sénégal (out October 2025), a tribute to Senegal’s rich musical landscape, featuring regional sounds from Casamance to Saint-Louis and a special collaboration with Baaba Maal. It’s the second in a trilogy—following Made In Dakar and to be completed by Made In Africa—celebrating African music’s past, present, and future.

ANNIE & THE CALDWELLS are a family from Mississippi that plays a powerful disco soul, led by mother Ms. Annie Caldwell. Their music won’t only move you spiritually but emotionally as well—with songs that are as much at home in a church of God as in the church of the dance floor.

Their incredible first single, Wrong, was released on January 15—and a new remix by disco legend Nicky Siano was released on February 25. Their new album Can’t Lose My (Soul) [Luaka Bop, 2025] is 40 years in the making and has already gotten rave reviews in MOJO and The Guardian.

Ms. Annie is backed by daughters Deborah and Anjessica, and goddaughter Toni Rivers; their eldest son Willie Jr. is on the bass and youngest son Abel Aquirius is on the drums. Their father and Annie’s husband of the last fifty years, Willie Joe Caldwell, Sr, is on guitar.