Youssou N’Dour

The most important voice in African music, Senegal's Youssou N'Dour (born in Dakar, Senegal, on October 1, 1959) is one of only a handful of musicians from his continent to have reached a wide variety of audiences, without denying his roots or leaving his homeland. A songwriter, singer and instrumentalist, he recorded the international hit "7 Seconds" in 1994, in duet with Neneh Cherry, and "La Cour des grands", the anthem of the 1998 Football World Cup, alongside Axelle Red. Yousssou N'Dour - nicknamed the "Nightingale of Dakar" - has collaborated with international stars such as Englishman Peter Gabriel, Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango and American Paul Simon. In 2010, Youssou N'Dour released Dakar - Kingston, a tribute to Bob Marley recorded in Jamaica. In 2016, he produced the album Africa Rekk, surrounded by the new wave of African musicians. He continued with Seeni Valeurs in 2017, featuring kora player Toumani Diabaté, then History in 2019, with Seinabo Sey, Babatunde Olatunji and Mohombi. In 2021, he reunited with his first group, Super Étoile de Dakar, for the aptly named Mbalax, followed by Éclairer le Monde - Light the World (2025), sung in Wolof, French and English, at once traditional, modern, acoustic and electric.

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