Born October 1st 1959, Senegalese Musician, Activist and politician Youssou Ndour is our music focus for today.
The former Senegalese minister of tourism who has actively been a singer for over 35 years created a genre with Sacred origins in the Serer used famously in the ndut initiation ceremonies called Mbalax.
Mbalax was an infusion of traditional Senegalese music into the Latin styles that dominated Senegalese music industry.
Youssou is one of Africa’s most celebrated musicians in history.
He successfully toured internationally for over 30 years.
He was described as the African artist of the century by Folk and Won his
first ever Grammy award for his album “Egypt” in 2005.
He has gone ahead to be nominated for a record 6 times making him one of
the most nominated African and the only Senegalese Born and bred Artist with a Grammy award.
New York Times described his voice as ” arresting tenor, a supple weapon deployed with prophetic authority” and he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in music by Yale university.
Youssou has recorded 41 albums and over 22 collaboration albums over his 35 years career.. He has successfully collaborated with Wyclef Jean, Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman, Dido, Burnaboy and many more .
