Open Access  Subscription Access

Youssou N'Dour is a well known and celebrated Senegalese musician and songwriter. His familial line includes griots and musicians. Youssou is known for his wide and expressive vocal range. He is often credited with popularizing mbalax, a new genre of Senegalese music to the world. Mbalax has its origins in the Serer musical tradition, as well as in the indigenous sabar drums of Senegal, along with influences from Congo, Cuba, and American jazz and blues. Other artists that have played a role in broadening mbalax include Thione Seck, Alioune Kassé, Alioune Mbaye Nder, as well as Super Diamono and Ismaël Lô that aided the development of this musical genre and its subsequent launch. Aside from singing, Youssou played Olaudah Equiano in the film, “Amazing Grace†in 2006. He co-directed a documentary, “Retour à Gorée†in 2007. His life and the release of his Grammy-award winning album “Egypt†was chronicled in “Youssou N'Dour: I bring What I Love,†a 2008 documentary that was directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi. Youssou served as Senegal's Minister for Culture and Tourism from 2012 to 2013. He continues to make music and his latest album was released in 2017.