Youssou N'Dour
Youssou N'Dour, born on October 1, 1959, in Dakar, Senegal, is a renowned Senegalese singer, songwriter, musician, and politician. He is celebrated for his extraordinary vocal range and for popularizing the mbalax music genre, which fuses traditional Senegalese music with Latin and other international influences. N'Dour was raised in a Sufi Muslim household, with a mother of Tukulor descent and a father who was Serer, but he grew up culturally and linguistically Wolof.
N'Dour began his musical career at a young age, performing at neighborhood religious festivities by age 12. By 16, he joined the Star Band de Dakar, a group that integrated Senegalese tama drums and Wolof songs into popular music, laying the groundwork for mbalax. In 1977, he and several members left to form Étoile de Dakar, which later became Super Étoile de Dakar under his leadership. This band further developed the mbalax sound, incorporating sabar drums and addressing social and political issues in their lyrics.
N'Dour gained international recognition in the mid-1980s, notably through his collaboration with Peter Gabriel on the hit "In Your Eyes" and participation in the Human Rights Now! tour. His solo album, The Guide (Wommat) in 1994, propelled him to global stardom, featuring the hit "Seven Seconds" with Neneh Cherry. He won a Grammy Award in 2004 for his album Egypt.
Aside from his music career, N'Dour served as Senegal's Minister of Culture and Tourism from 2012 to 2013. He has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Praemium Imperiale in 2017, and was ranked by Rolling Stone in 2023 as the 69th greatest singer of all time. His influence extends beyond music, as he has been a cultural and political icon, nominated as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador.
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