Youssou N'Dour

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Youssou N'Dour
YoussouNdour20090913.jpg
N'Dour in Warsaw on 13 September 2009
Minister of Tourism of Senegal
In office
5 April 2012 – September 2013
Prime MinisterAbdoul Mbaye
Preceded byThierno Lo
Personal details
Born (1959-10-01) 1 October 1959 (age 60)
Dakar, Senegal
Youssou N'Dour
Birth nameYoussou N'Dour
Also known asYoussou Ndour
Born (1959-10-01) 1 October 1959 (age 60)
OriginDakar, Senegal
GenresMbalax, world
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • percussionist
Years active1970s–present
Labels
Associated actsStar Band, Étoile de Dakar, Super Diamono[1]

Youssou N'Dour (French pronunciation: ​[jusu (ɛ)nduʁ]; also known as Youssou Madjiguéne Ndour,[2] born 1 October 1959) is a Senegalese singer, songwriter, composer, occasional actor, businessman, and politician. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine described him as, "perhaps the most famous singer alive" in Senegal and much of Africa.[3] From April 2012 to September 2013, he was Senegal's Minister of Tourism.

N'Dour helped develop a style of popular Senegalese music known by all Senegambians (including the Wolof) as mbalax, a genre that has sacred origins in the Serer[4][5] music njuup tradition and ndut initiation ceremonies.[4][5] He is the subject of the award-winning films Return to Gorée (2007) directed by Pierre-Yves Borgeaud and Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love (2008) directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, which were released around the world.

In 2006, N'Dour was cast as Olaudah Equiano in the film Amazing Grace.

Early life[edit]

N'Dour at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival

Ethnically,[6] N'Dour is Serer, born to a Serer father and a Toucouleur mother.[4][7] However, culturally, N'Dour is Wolof.[7] He was born in Dakar.[4] He started performing at age 12 and would later perform regularly with the Star Band, Dakar's most popular group during the 1970s.

Despite N'Dour's maternal connection to the traditional griot caste, he was not raised in that tradition, which he learned instead from his siblings. Although patrilineally from the noble N'Dour family, his parents' world-view encouraged a modern outlook, leaving him open to two cultures and thereby inspiring N'Dour's identity as a modern griot. As a Muslim, he has often incorporated aspects of Islamic music in his work.[8]

Music career[edit]

At the age of 15, Youssou N'Dour joined Super Diamono and, in 1975, toured with the band in West Africa.[9][10]

In 1976 when N'Dour was 16 years old, he was signed to a contract to sing with Ibra Kasse's Star Band at Kasse's Miami club in Dakar where he would become a sensation.

In 1978, N'Dour would follow as several members of the Star Band left to form Étoile de Dakar, a band that made important contributions to Senegal's newly evolving musical style called Mbalax, a style incorporating traditional Senegalese music into the Latin styles that were popular.[11] Although they quickly became one of the city's most popular bands[12], the group was short-lived due to internal problems. Étoile de Dakar split into two groups: Étoile 2000 and Super Étoile de Dakar. Youssou N'Dour and other members including Jimi Mbaye on guitar, bassist Habib Faye, and tama (talking drum) player Assane Thiam formed Super Étoile de Dakar which produced four albums on cassette in just a few months and eventually evolved into N'Dour's backing band.

By 1991, he had opened his own recording studio, and, by 1995, his own record label, Jololi.

N'Dour is one of the most celebrated African musicians in history. His mix of traditional Senegalese mbalax with eclectic influences ranging from Cuban rumba to hip hop, jazz, and soul has won him an international fan base of millions. In the West, N'Dour has collaborated with Peter Gabriel,[13] Axelle Red,[14] Sting,[15] Alan Stivell,[16] Bran Van 3000,[17] Neneh Cherry,[18] Wyclef Jean,[15] Paul Simon,[18] Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman, James Newton Howard, Branford Marsalis, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Dido, Lou Reed, Bruce Cockburn, and others.

The New York Times described his voice as an "arresting tenor, a supple weapon deployed with prophetic authority".[19] N'Dour's work absorbed the entire Senegalese musical spectrum, often filtered through the lens of genre-defying rock or pop music from outside Senegalese culture.

In July 1993, Africa Opera composed by N'Dour premiered at the Opéra Garnier for the French Festival Paris quartier d'été.[20]

In 1994, N'Dour released his biggest international hit single, the trilingual "7 Seconds", a duet sung with Neneh Cherry.

He wrote and performed the official anthem of the 1998 FIFA World Cup with Axelle Red "La Cour des Grands".[14]

Folk Roots magazine described him as the African Artist of the Century. He toured internationally for thirty years. He won his first American Grammy Award (best contemporary world music album) for his CD Egypt in 2005.[citation needed]

He is the proprietor of L'Observateur, one of the widest-circulation newspapers in Senegal, the radio station RFM (Radio Future Medias) and the TV channel TFM.

In 2002, N'Dour was honoured with a Prince Claus Award, under that year's theme "Languages and transcultural forms of expression".

In 2006, N'Dour played the role of the African-British abolitionist Olaudah Equiano in the movie Amazing Grace, which chronicled the efforts of William Wilberforce to end slavery in the British Empire.[21]

In 2008, N'Dour offered one of his compositions, Bébé, for the French singer Cynthia Brown.[citation needed]

In 2011, N'Dour was awarded an honorary doctoral degree in Music from Yale University.[22]

In 2013, N'Dour won a share of Sweden's $150,000 Polar music prize for promoting understanding between faiths as well as for his music.[23]

Activism[edit]

N'Dour was nominated as Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on 16 October 2000.[24]

In Senegal, N'Dour became a powerful cultural icon, actively involved in social issues. In 1985, he organized a concert for the release of Nelson Mandela. He was a featured performer in the 1988 worldwide Amnesty International Human Rights Now! Tour collaborating with Lou Reed on a version of the Peter Gabriel song "Biko" which was produced by Richard James Burgess and featured on the Amnesty International benefit album The Secret Policeman's Third Ball. He worked with the United Nations and UNICEF, and he started Project Joko to open internet cafés in Africa and to connect Senegalese communities around the world.

In 2003, N'Dour cancelled an upcoming American tour in order to publicly deny support for the upcoming American invasion of Iraq. In a public statement explaining his decision, N'Dour said:

It is my strong conviction that the responsibility for disarming Iraq should rest with the United Nations. As a matter of conscience I question the United States government's apparent intention to commence war in Iraq. I believe that coming to America at this time would be perceived in many parts of the world--rightly or wrongly--as support for this policy, and that, as a consequence, it is inappropriate to perform in the US at this juncture.[25]

He performed in 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.[26] He covered John Lennon's "Jealous Guy" for the 2007 CD Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur. He appeared in a joint Spain-Senegal ad campaign to inform the African public about the dramatic consequences of illegal immigration.[citation needed] N'Dour participated in the Stock Exchange of Visions project in 2007.[27]

In 2008, he joined the Fondation Chirac's honour committee.[28] The same year, Youssou N'Dour's microfinance organization named Birima ("Birima" is also a song's title) was launched with the collaboration of United Colors of Benetton.

In 2009, he released his song "Wake Up (It's Africa Calling)" under a Creative Commons license to help IntraHealth International in their IntraHealth Open campaign to bring open source health applications to Africa. The song was remixed by a variety of artists including Nas, Peter Buck of R.E.M., and Duncan Sheik to help raise money for the campaign.[29]

N'Dour is a supporter of the Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, an organisation which advocates for democratic reformation of the United Nations.[30]

N'Dour is a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism.[31]

Political career[edit]

At the beginning of 2012, he announced plans to stand as a candidate in the 2012 Senegalese presidential election, competing against President Abdoulaye Wade.[32][33] However, he was disqualified from running in the election over the legitimacy of the signatures he had collected to endorse his campaign.[34] N'Dour backed the opposition candidate Macky Sall, who defeated Wade in a second round of voting in March 2012. N'Dour was appointed as Minister of Culture and Tourism in April 2012 as part of the cabinet of new Prime Minister Abdoul Mbaye.[35] The story of N'Dour's presidential campaign was filmed for the PBS TV program, "Sound Tracks: Music Without Borders." [36] Later his portfolio was modified and he was appointed as Minister of Tourism and Leisure. He was dismissed from that post on 2 September 2013, when a new government under Prime Minister Aminata Touré was appointed.[37] N'Dour was instead appointed as Special Adviser to the President, with the rank of minister,[38] and tasked with promoting the country abroad.[39]

Awards and Nominations[edit]

Award Year[a] Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
Edison Award 1994 Best Pop International The Guide (Wommat) Won [40]
MOBO Awards 2001 Best World Music Act Himself Nominated [41]
2003 Nominated [42]
2004 Nominated [43]
2005 Best African Act Won [44]
Victoires de la Musique 2001 World Music Album of the Year Joko Nominated [45]
2011 Dakar – Kingston Nominated [46]

Discography[edit]

N'Dour at the 2010 Festival de Cornouaille at Quimper, France.

Albums[edit]

  • Ndiadiane Ndiaye (1982)
  • Mouride (1982)
  • Independance Vol. 3 (1982)
  • Show!!! A Abidjan (1983)
  • Djamil Inédits 84-85 (1985)
  • Immigrés (1985)
  • Nelson Mandela (1985)
  • The Lion (1989)
  • Set (1990)
  • Eyes Open (1992)
  • The Guide (Wommat) (1994)
  • Gainde – Voices from the Heart of Africa (1995)
  • Djamil (1996) – anthology
  • Lii (1996)
  • St. Louis (1997)
  • Special Fin D'annee Plus (1998)
  • Le Grand Bal a Évry (1999)
  • Rewmi (1999)
  • Joko: From Village to Town (2000)
  • Joko: The Link (2000)
  • Le Grand Bal (2000)
  • Ba Tay (2001)
  • Le Grand Bal a Bercy (2001)
  • Nothing's in Vain (Coono Du Réér) (2002)
  • Kirikou Et La Sorciere (2004)
  • Egypt (2004)
  • Jigeen Gni (2005) – single
  • Alsaama Day (2007)
  • Rokku Mi Rokka (2007) – No. 30 in Rolling Stone's Top 50 Albums of 2007.[47]
  • I Bring What I Love (2008) – film soundtrack
  • Special Fin D'annee: Salagne-Salagne (2009)
  • Dakar – Kingston (2010)
  • Mbalakh Dafay Wakh (2011)
  • Fatteliku (2014)
  • #Senegaal Rek (2016)
  • Africa Rekk (2016)
  • Seeni Valeurs (2017)
  • Respect (2018)
  • History (2019)

Compilation albums[edit]

  • Diongoma (1983)
  • Special Noël (1993)
  • The Best Of Youssou N'Dour (1995)
  • Euleek Sibir with Omar Pene (You et Pene) (1996)
  • Immigrés/Bitim Rew (1997)
  • Inedits 84–85 (1997)
  • Best of the 80's (1998)
  • Hey You: The Essential Collection 1988–1990 (1998)
  • Birth Of A Star (2001)
  • Youssou N'Dour and His Friends (2002)
  • The Rough Guide To Youssou N'Dour & Etoile de Dakar (2002)
  • Céy You (2003)
  • Le Grand Bal: Paris-Bercy (2003)
  • 4.4.44 (2004)
  • Bercy 2004 vol. 1 & 2 (2004)
  • 7 Seconds: The Best Of Youssou N'Dour (Remastered) (2004)
  • Bercy 2005 (2005)
  • Le Grand Bal: Bercy 2008 (2008)
  • From Senegal to the world (2012)
  • Le Grand Bal: Bercy 2013 (2013)
  • Africa Rekk (Réédition) (2017)
  • Raxas Bercy 2017 (2017)
  • Le Grand Show (2019)

Collaborations[edit]

  • 1986: So from Peter Gabriel - Backing vocals on In Your Eyes.
  • 1989: Passion from Peter Gabriel - Backing vocals on A Different Drum, Passion.
  • 1990: Shaking the Tree: Sixteen Golden Greats from Peter Gabriel - Mercy Street and Shaking the Tree.
  • 2000: Album Solidays - Song Qui sait ? - For the association Solidarité sida - With Anggun, Patrick Bruel, Stephan Eicher, Faudel, Peter Gabriel, Lââm, Lokua Kanza, Nourith, Axelle Red & Zucchero.
  • 2003: Hit from Peter Gabriel - Backing vocals on In Your Eyes.
  • 2005: Live 8: One Day, One Concert, One World - DVD Various Artists - Youssou N'Dour sings 7 Seconds with Dido.
  • 2005: Live 8 Paris : DVD Various Artists - Youssou sings at the end of the concert New Africa/Lima Weesu.
  • 2007: Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign To Save Darfur Various Artists - Youssou sings Jealous Guy.
  • 2008: Bord Ezanga Kombo from Koffi Olomide - Youssou on Festival.
  • 2009: Les Amis Du Monde with the Lebanese Diva Majida El Roumi for The Francophone Games Opening - 2009 in Beirut
  • 2020: Twice as Tall from Burna Boy – on track 4[48]

Singles[edit]

Single Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[49] 		AUS
[50] 		FRA
[51] 		BEL
(WAL)
[52] 		SWI
[53] 		GER
[54] 		US
[55] 		US
Alt Rock
[56]
"The Rubberband Man / Nelson Mandela" 1985 — — — — — — — — Nelson Mandela
"Shango Affair" 1988 — — — — — — — — Black Mic Mac 2 OST
"Shakin' the Tree" (with Peter Gabriel) 1989 61 — — — — — — 9 The Lion
"The Lion / Gaïende" — — — — — — — —
"Toxiques" 1990 — — — — — — — — Set
"Africa Remembers" 1992 — — — — — — — — Eyes Open
"7 Seconds" (with Neneh Cherry) 1994 3 3 1 — 1 3 98 — The Guide (Wommat)
"Mame Bamba" — — — — — — — —
"Undecided" 1995 53 145 — — — 92 — —
"Chimes of Freedom" — — — — — — — —
"How Come" (with Canibus) 1998 52 — — — — — — — Bulworth OST
"La Cour Des Grands (A Ton Tour De Jouer)" (with Axelle Red) — — 16 31 — — — — official hymn of 1998 FIFA World Cup
"My Hope Is in You" 1999 — — — — — — — — Joko - From Village to Town
"Birima" 2000 — — — — — — — —
"So Many Men" (with Pascal Obispo) 2002 — — 35 27 85 — — — Nothing's in Vain (Coono Du Réér)
"#Senegaal rekk" (with Le Super Etoile) 2016 — — 189 — — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Films[edit]

Amazing Grace (2006)

Retour à Gorée (2007)

  • As himself, journeying from the island of Gorée to the USA and back, exploring the origins of jazz, which go back to the era of slave trade in Africa, through a concert performed by an international group of artists.[57][58]

Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love (2008)

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Indicates the year of ceremony. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hardy, Phil, The Da Capo Companion to 20th-century Popular Music, Da Capo Press (1995), p. 682, ISBN 9780306806407
  2. ^ Xalima, Youssou « Madjiguéne » devenu l'ennemi des hommes sénégalais… (28 November 2019) [1]
  3. ^ Considine, J. D., and Matos, Michaelangelo, "Biography: Youssou N'Dour" RollingStone.com, 2004.
  4. ^ a b c d Sturman, Janet, The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Music and Culture, SAGE Publications (2019), p. 1926 ISBN 9781483317748 [2] (Retrieved 13 July 2019)
  5. ^ a b Connolly, Sean, Senegal, Bradt Travel Guides (2009), p. 27, ISBN 9781784776206 [3] (Retrieved 13 July 2019)
  6. ^ In the Senegambia region as well as many African cultures, a person's ethnicity is determined by their father's line or surname. N'Dour and its variation Ndure or Ndour is a typical Serer surname. See - Mwakikagile, Godfrey, The Gambia and Its People: Ethnic Identities and Cultural Integration in Africa, New Africa Press (2010), p. 136, 141. ISBN 9789987160235
  7. ^ a b "La musique me portait, c'était ma seule langue". Le Monde.fr (in French). 12 August 2005.
  8. ^ "A song and a prayer". The Guardian. 23 May 2004.
  9. ^ Hardy, Phil, The Da Capo Companion to 20th-century Popular Music, Da Capo Press (1995), p. 682, ISBN 9780306806407
  10. ^ Appiah, Anthony, Gates, Henry Louis, Encyclopedia of Africa, Volume 1, Oxford University Press (2010), p. 562, ISBN 9780195337709 [4]
  11. ^ Hudson, Mark, essay in liner notes of "Once Upon a Time in Senegal", Etoile de Dakar, Sterns Music 2010, p. 14
  12. ^ Denselow, Robin (6 May 2010). "Etoile de Dakar featuring Youssou N'Dour: Once Upon a Time in Senegal". The Guardian. London.
  13. ^ Llewellyn Smith, Caspar (15 June 2008). "Soundtrack of my life: Youssou N'Dour". Guardian.co.uk. London. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  14. ^ a b Perrone, Pierre (29 May 1998). "Music: The song remains the game". London: Independent.co.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  15. ^ a b Hudson, Mark (12 December 2002). "Supernatural superstar". London: Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  16. ^ "Scotland News – Listings: Critics' choice". TimesOnline.co.uk. 11 January 2004.
  17. ^ Gill, Andy (14 June 2001). "Album: Bran van 3000". London: Independent.co.uk.
  18. ^ a b Cumming, Tim (21 October 2004). "Youssou N'Dour and the Fathi Salama Orchestra, Barbican, London". Independent.co.uk.
  19. ^ Powers, Ann (23 November 2000). "African Drumbeats That Shout Out in Celebration". NYTimes.com.
  20. ^ "Youssou N'Dour". Polar Music Prize. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  21. ^ Moss, Stephen (21 March 2007). "I'm bringing a message". Guardian.co.uk. London.
  22. ^ Burt, David; de La Bruyère, Max (23 May 2011). "University confers 2,907 degrees at 310th Commencement". The Daily Yale News. Archived from the original on 12 November 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  23. ^ Scrutton, Alistair (7 May 2013). "Youssou N'Dour's work for harmony lands Swedish music prize". Reuters.
  24. ^ "Youssou N'Dour". Food and Agriculture Organization. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  25. ^ Christgau, Robert (8 June 2004). "Facing Mecca". The Village Voice. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  26. ^ "Dido, Youssou and the three-gig dash". The Observer. London: Guardian.co.uk. 3 July 2005.
  27. ^ "Youssou n'Dour the Africa's Music Maestro". ThisDayOnline.com. 13 June 2009. Archived from the original on 20 November 2010.
  28. ^ "Honor Committee". Fondationchirac.eu. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  29. ^ "Open Initiative". IntraHealth. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  30. ^ "Statements". Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  31. ^ "Artists - Artists Against Racism". artistsagainstracism.org. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  32. ^ "Message Nouvel an : Youssou Ndour confirme sa candidature à la Présidentielle 2012" (in French). Seneweb. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  33. ^ Diene, Charles Gaïky. "Course à la présidentielle : Youssou Ndour sur la ligne de départ". WalFadjri (in French). Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  34. ^ "Senegal clashes erupt as court clears Wade poll bid". BBC News. 28 January 2012.
  35. ^ "Senegal musician Youssou Ndour given ministerial post". BBC News. 5 April 2012.
  36. ^ "Youssou N'Dour: Shakin' the Tree | Sound Tracks". Pbs.org. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  37. ^ "Sénégal : un nouveau gouvernement formé, sans le chanteur Youssou Ndour", Agence France-Presse, 2 September 2013 (in French).
  38. ^ "C'est officiel : Youssou N'dour nommé Conseiller spécial, avec rang de ministre", Dakaractu, 9 September 2013 (in French).
  39. ^ Benjamin Roger, "Yasmina Khadra, Youssou N'Dour, George Weah… Ces personnalités qui rêvaient d'être président", Jeune Afrique, 8 November 2013 (in French).
  40. ^ https://www.edisons.nl/pop/edities/1994/
  41. ^ "Mobos 2001: The winners". News.bbc.co.uk. 4 October 2001.
  42. ^ "Mobo Awards 2003: The nominees". News.bbc.co.uk. 1 September 2003.
  43. ^ "Mobo Awards 2004: The nominees". News.bbc.co.uk. 24 August 2004.
  44. ^ "Mobo awards 2005: The winners". News.bbc.co.uk. 22 September 2005.
  45. ^ "Les Victoires de La Musique - Palmarès 2001". Francetv.fr.
  46. ^ "Les Victoires de La Musique - Palmarès 2011". Francetv.fr.
  47. ^ CHRISTGAU, ROBERT; FRICKE, DAVID; HOARD, CHRISTIAN; SHEFFIELD, ROB, "The Top 50 Albums of 2007" RollingStone.com, 17 December 2007
  48. ^ Alake, Motolani (14 August 2020). "Burna Boy releases new album, 'Twice As Tall'". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  49. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 388. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  50. ^ Australian chart peaks:
  51. ^ "Youssou N'Dour - French Chart". lescharts.com. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  52. ^ "Youssou N'Dour - Walloon Chart". ultratop.be. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  53. ^ "Youssou N'Dour - Swiss Chart". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  54. ^ "Youssou N'Dour - German Chart". germancharts.de. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  55. ^ "Youssou N'Dour – US Billboard Hot 100 Chart". billboard.com. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  56. ^ "Youssou N'Dour - US Alternative Songs". billboard.com. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  57. ^ Regnier, Isabelle (1 April 2008). ""Retour à Gorée" : la force de la musique des esclaves noirs au détriment de la vérité historique". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  58. ^ Curiel, Jonathan, "Return to Gorée" (review), San Francisco Chronicle, 19 September 2008.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Youssou_N%27Dour&oldid=975052322"