In 1997 he was awarded Best Newcomer at the Kora All-African Awards in South Africa and the following year he toured the US, as part of the 'Africa-Fête' line-up that included Salif Keita and Papa Wemba. In 1999 he received the prestigious 'Ordre National de Merite de Léon' from the President of Senegal.
Mwaka 1997 alizawadiwa tuzo ya Kora nchini Afrika Kusini na kufuatiwa na ziara nchini Marekani. Mwaka 1999 alipata tuzo ya ‘Ordre National de Leon kutoka kwa Rais wa Senegal.