Youssou Madjiguène Ndour known as Youssou N’Dour is a Senegalese legendary singer, songwriter, musician, composer, occasional actor, businessman, and politician.
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”. Folk Roots magazine described him as the African Artist of the Century.
In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine described him as, “perhaps the most famous singer alive” in Senegal and Africa.
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 Senegambias (including the Wolof) as mbalax, a genre that has sacred origins in the Serer music njuup tradition and ndut initiation ceremonies.
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.
The Senegalese musician was one of the few African artists who gained worldwide recognition.
He started his career at a young age, turning in performances with other musicians such as John Lee Hooker, Daryl Hall, and the Blues band. He had a great love for music and joined the Senegalese National Orchestra at a young age.
Youssou has had an incredible career and he has been featured on the soundtrack of many movies.
His perseverance helped him succeed in a variety of projects that he tried his hand at, and today he is regarded as one of the greatest African music icons in history.
The combination of traditional Senegalese rhythms with modern sounds makes his sound distinctive and diverse, which makes it special.