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Youssou NDOUR, hailed by Peter Gabriel as "simply one of the best singers alive," is a legendary musician and cultural icon from the Senegalese capital of Dakar. Known for his extraordinary voice and vocal range, NDOUR's influence spans across continents and decades, solidifying his place as a global changemaker and ambassador for African culture.
Born into a griot family on his maternal side, his musical journey began at a young age singing alongside his mother at religious ceremonies. In his late teens, he formed his first group, Star Band de Dakar (members of which later formed Étoile de Dakar), renowned for blending traditional Senegalese and Wolof music with other genres, pioneering a style that would eventually become known as mbalax.
In 1986, NDOUR collaborated with Peter Gabriel on the iconic track "In Your Eyes" from Gabriel's album So, captivating global audiences with his electrifying performance. His subsequent duet with Neneh Cherry, "7 Seconds," dominated the international charts, selling over 2 million copies worldwide and garnering Europe’s Song of the Year at the 1995 World Music Awards in Monaco. In 1994, NDOUR released The Guide (Wommat), propelling him further to global stardom, and his release of Egypt in 2004 won the Grammy Award for Best World Album.
Beyond his music career, Youssou NDOUR has been a tireless advocate for social change. He has been actively involved in issues such as internet connectivity, access to healthcare, and human rights, working closely with organizations like Amnesty International. His commitment to these causes led him to enter the political arena, serving as Senegal’s Minister of Tourism and Culture and as Minister of Tourism and Leisure from October.
Over four decades, Youssou NDOUR has not only shaped the sound of African music but has also used his platform to drive meaningful change around the world. His work continues to inspire new generations, and his voice remains a powerful symbol of Africa's rich cultural heritage and bright future. Rolling Stone aptly described him as "a singer with a voice so extraordinary that the history of Africa seems locked inside it."
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Julie
April 22nd 2025
Super Ambiance
Youssou au top! de supers musiciens! un public à fond
Le Sénégal était à Bordeaux, c'était tellement un bon moment
MERCI
Cenon, France@Le Rocher de Palmer
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Youssou N'Dour Biography
Youssou N'Dour may have come attention to Europe and America when he contributed backing vocals to Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes", but he'd been performing and recording in his native Senegal for some time.
Youssou was born in Medina in Dakar, Senegal, started his music career singing in small clubs in Dakar in his local dialect wollof language which is predominantly spoke in Senegal and Gambia. He's most popular for his mbalax beat which gave him the title "Roi de Mbalax" (King of Mbalax), and is a household name in Senegal, Gambia and neighbour countries in West Africa with a long list of hits from the early days in the 70s to date.
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.
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.
There is more than just an artist to youssou, his magestic and mythic musical talent, his voice and the words that flip through his lips, define more than what the world has known of this artist. The music he has been playing for more than two decades now is like a monument, strong that exist in each person's heart, a monument that will never be removed, neither by war nor massive destruction. Artists like N'dour, have proven to the world how much, music can change our lives, change the way we live, eat and see things. I see his music as the horizon of our imagination, because every beat he plays goes beyond our joy, sensation and feeling.
Read MoreYoussou was born in Medina in Dakar, Senegal, started his music career singing in small clubs in Dakar in his local dialect wollof language which is predominantly spoke in Senegal and Gambia. He's most popular for his mbalax beat which gave him the title "Roi de Mbalax" (King of Mbalax), and is a household name in Senegal, Gambia and neighbour countries in West Africa with a long list of hits from the early days in the 70s to date.
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.
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.
There is more than just an artist to youssou, his magestic and mythic musical talent, his voice and the words that flip through his lips, define more than what the world has known of this artist. The music he has been playing for more than two decades now is like a monument, strong that exist in each person's heart, a monument that will never be removed, neither by war nor massive destruction. Artists like N'dour, have proven to the world how much, music can change our lives, change the way we live, eat and see things. I see his music as the horizon of our imagination, because every beat he plays goes beyond our joy, sensation and feeling.
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