She is a regular presenter of BBC Radio 3's world music programme World Routes and a producer of record albums by African musicians including Kora player Toumani Diabate, singer Kasse Mady Diabate, ngoni player Bassekou Kouyate and Sephardic singer Yasmin Levy.
Xalam toured with groups like Rolling Stones and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, finally achieving success in Senegal with 1988's Xarit.