During his teens he listened to all kinds of music, especially the Congolese rumba which was popular throughout Africa. Cuban music was also all the rage in West Africa at this time, so when his older brothers started up their 78s and danced to 'El Pancho Bravo', Cheikh, without understanding a word, would mime exactly to the Spanish lyrics.
Alipokuwa na umri wa miaka kumi alipendelea kusikiliza nyimbo za aina tofauti hasa nyimbo za Rumba kutoka Kongo ambazo zilikuwa maarufu Afrika nzima.