Youssou N'dour

Youssou N'Dour (born October 11, 1959 in Dakar, Senegal) is a singer. He helped develop popular music in Senegal, known in the Wolof language as mbalax, a blend of the country's traditional griot percussion and praise-singing with the Afro-Cuban arrangements and flavors which made the return trip from the Caribbean to West Africa in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s and have flourished in West Africa ever since.

Related Topics:
October 11 - 1959 - Dakar - Senegal - Singer - Wolof language - Mbalax - Traditional - Griot - Caribbean - West Africa - 1940s - 50s - 60s

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Beginning in the mid-1970s the resulting mix was modernized with a gloss of more complex indigenous Senegalese dance rhythms, roomy and melodic guitar and saxophone solos, chattering talking-drum soliloquies and, on occasion, Sufi-inspired Muslim religious chant. This created a new music which was at turns nostalgic, restrained and stately, or celebratory, explosively syncopated and indescribably funky. Younger Senegalese musicians steeped in Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, James Brown, and the whole range of American jazz, soul, and rock music, which Senegal's cosmopolitan capital, Dakar, had enthusiastically absorbed, were rediscovering their heritage and seeking out traditional performers, particularly singers and talking drummers, to join their bands. (The griots—musicians, praise-singers and storyteller-historians—comprise a distinct hereditary caste in Wolof society and throughout West Africa.) As it emerged from this period of fruitful musical turbulence, mbalax would eventually find in Youssou N'Dour the performer who has arguably had more to do with its shaping than any other individual.

Related Topics:
1970s - Senegalese dance - Sufi - Muslim - Jimi Hendrix - Carlos Santana - James Brown - Jazz - Soul - Rock music - Talking drum - Caste - Wolof society

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He began performing at the age of 12. Within a couple of years he was performing regularly with the Star Band, Dakar's most popular group in the early 1970s. Several members of the Star Band joined Orchestre Baobab about that time.

Related Topics:
Star Band - Orchestre Baobab

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In 1979, he formed his own ensemble, the Etoile de Dakar. His early work with Etoile de Dakar was in the typical Latin style popular all over Africa during that time, but in the 1980s he developed a unique sound when he started his current group, Super Etoile de Dakar featuring Jimi Mbaye on guitar, bassist Habib Faye, and tama (talking drum) player Assane Thiam.

Related Topics:
1979 - Etoile de Dakar - 1980s - Super Etoile de Dakar - Jimi Mbaye - Habib Faye - Tama - Assane Thiam

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Youssou N'Dour is one of the most celebrated African musicians in history. A renowned singer, songwriter, and composer, Youssou's mix of traditional Senegalese mbalax with eclectic influences ranging from Cuban samba to hip hop, jazz, and soul has won him an international fan base of millions. In the West, Youssou has collaborated with musicians Peter Gabriel, Sting, Neneh Cherry, Wyclef Jean, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman, Branford Marsalis, and others. In Senegal, Youssou is a powerful cultural icon actively involved in social issues.

Related Topics:
African musicians - History - Eclectic - Cuba - Samba - Hip hop - Peter Gabriel - Sting - Neneh Cherry - Wyclef Jean - Paul Simon - Bruce Springsteen - Tracy Chapman - Branford Marsalis

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He is endowed with remarkable range and poise, a composer, bandleader, and producer with a prodigious musical intelligence. The New York Times most recently described his voice as an "arresting tenor, a supple weapon deployed with prophetic authority". N'Dour absorbs the entire Senegalese musical spectrum in his work, often filtering this through the lens of genre-defying rock or pop music from outside Senegalese culture.

Related Topics:
Composer - Bandleader - The New York Times - Pop music

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In July 1993, an African opera composed by N'Dour premiered at the Paris Opera. He wrote and performed an anthem for the 1998 World Cup playoffs.

Related Topics:
1993 - Africa - Opera - Paris Opera - 1998 World Cup

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N'Dour's major asset is that is strongly grounded in his culture. Even if he chooses to explore elsewhere, his roots are well established. Some have gone so far as describing him as the African Artist of the Century (Folk Roots magazine). He has toured internationally for almost 30 years. He won his first American Grammy Award (best contemporary world music album) for his CD Egypt in 2005.

Related Topics:
Culture - Grammy Award - Best contemporary world music album

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His success lies in his constant work, and the honesty and respect he brings to his work, his people and his family. However, his personal life is kept private. Youssou works constantly, perfecting his art and opening it up to other cultures. In recent years, he has opened his own recording studio, Xippi, as well as his own record label, Jololi.

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N'Dour has associated himself with several social and political issues. In 1985, he organized a concert for the release of Nelson Mandela. He toured for Amnesty International and worked with the United Nations and UNICEF. He also started Project Joko to open internet cafés in Africa and to connect Senegalese communities around the world. He performed at three of the Live 8 concerts (in Live 8 concert, London, Live 8 concert, Paris and at the Live 8 concert, Eden Project in Cornwall) on 2 July, 2005, with Dido.

Related Topics:
Nelson Mandela - Amnesty International - United Nations - UNICEF - Internet café - Live 8 - Live 8 concert, London - Live 8 concert, Paris - Live 8 concert, Eden Project - 2 July - Dido

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