Youssou N’Dour Biography
Youssou N’Dour is a very well known famous Senegalese singer. He is also a songwriter, composer, occasional actor, businessman, and politician.
Youssou N’Dour Early Life
He is a Wolof N’Dour was born in Dakar. At the age of 12, he started performing and was performing regularly with the Star Band, Dakar’s most popular group during the early 1970s. Apart from N’Dour’s maternal connection to the traditional griot caste, he was not raised in that tradition, which he learned instead from his siblings. N’Dour’s parents’ world view encouraged a modern outlook, leaving him open to two cultures and thereby inspiring N’Dour’s identity as a modern griot. Being a Muslim, he has often incorporated aspects of Islamic music in his work.
Youssou N’Dour Music Career
The year 1979, he formed his own ensemble, the Étoile de Dakar. His early work with the group, in the Latin style, was popular all over Africa during that time. In the 1980s, he developed a unique sound with his ultimate group, Super Étoile de Dakar featuring Jimi Mbaye on guitar, bassist Habib Faye and Tama player Assane Thiam.
In 1991, he had opened his own recording studio, and, by 1995, his own record label, Jolly. He is one of the most celebrated African musicians in history. N’Dour’s mix of traditional Senegalese mbalax with eclectic influences ranging from Cuban rumba to hip hop, jazz and soul won him an international fan base of millions.
The West, N’Dour collaborated with Peter Gabriel, Axelle Red, Sting, Alan Stivell, Bran Van 3000, Neneh Cherry, Wyclef Jean, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman, James Newton Howard, Branford Marsalis, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Dido, Lou Reed, Bruce Cockburn, and others. New York Times described his voice as an “arresting tenor, a supple weapon deployed with prophetic authority”.
His work absorbed the entire Senegalese musical spectrum, often filtered through the lens of genre-defying rock or pop music from outside Senegalese culture. July 1993, Africa Opera composed by N’Dour premiered at the Opéra Garnier for the French Festival Paris quartier d’été. The year 1994, N’dour released his biggest international hit single, the trilingual “7 Seconds”, a duet sung with Neneh Cherry.
He helped develop a style of popular Senegalese music known by all Senegambian as mbalax, a genre that has sacred origins in the Wolof. N’Dour 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. The year 2006, N’Dour was cast as Olaudah Equiano in the film Amazing Grace.
Youssou N’Dour Age
He was born on 1st October 1959 in Dakar, Senegal. He is aged 59 years as of 2018.
Youssou N’Dour Family
After doing our research, details about her parents are not available and it is also not known if she has any siblings.
Youssou N’Dour Body Measurements
- Height: Not Available
- Weight: Not Available
- Shoe Size: Not Available
- Body Shape: Not Available
- Hair Colour: Not Available
Youssou N’Dour Net Worth
He has a net worth of 145 million.
Youssou N’Dour Political Career
At the beginning of 2012, he announced plans to stand as a candidate in the 2012 Senegalese presidential election. The competing against President Abdoulaye Wade. He, however, was disqualified from running in the election over the legitimacy of the signatures he had collected to endorse his campaign. Youssou backed the opposition candidate Macky Sall, who defeated Wade in a second round of voting in March 2012.
He was appointed as Minister of Culture and Tourism in April 2012 as part of the cabinet of new Prime Minister Abdoul Mbaye. That story of N’Dour’s presidential campaign was filmed for the PBS TV program, “Sound Tracks: Music Without Borders.” Then later his portfolio was modified and he was appointed as Minister of Tourism and Leisure.
N’Dour was dismissed from that post on 2 September 2013, when a new government under Prime Minister Aminata Touré was appointed. He was instead appointed as Special Adviser to the President, with the rank of minister and tasked with promoting the country abroad.
Youssou N’Dour Songs
Albums
- 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 (1999)
- Le Grand Bal a Evry (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.
- 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
- 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)
- Bercy 2004 vol. 1 & 2
- 7 Seconds: The Best Of Youssou N’Dour (Remastered) (2004)
- From Senegal to the world (2012)
- Raxas Bercy 2017 (2017)
Collaborations
- 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
Frequently Asked Questions About Youssou N’Dour
Who is Youssou?
Youssou N’Dour is a very well known famous Senegalese singer, songwriter, composer, occasional actor, businessman, and politician.
How old is Youssou?
He was born on 1st October 1959 in Dakar, Senegal. He is aged 59 years as of 2018.
How tall is Youssou?
Information concerning Youssou’s height has not yet been revealed.
Is Youssou married?
He is married to his lovely Aida Coulibaly.
How much is Youssou worth?
He has a net worth of 145 million.
How much does Youssou make?
According to his reliable source, Youssoue annual salary is not yer revealed to the public.
Where does Youssou live?
Not Known.
Is Youssou dead or alive?
He is alive and in good health. There have been no reports of him being sick or having any health-related issues.
Where is Youssou now?
Youssou N’Dour Twitter
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