Youssou N'dour Releases Islamic Album

Weekly Trust (Kaduna)

November 22, 2003 
Posted to the web November 24, 2003 

Kaduna 

Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour, recently appointed a goodwill ambassador by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), is worried about the negative light in which Islam is shown. Trust Entertainment finds out what the international star has done about it

The Senegalese singer, best known to international audiences for his 1994 hit 'Seven Seconds' with Neneh Cherry, first made his name outside Africa working alongside Peter Gabriel in the 1980s. Early this year, in March, he postponed what should have been the biggest US tour of his career to protest against the war in Iraq.

N'Dour said he wanted to show a positive view of Islam at a time when it is being misinterpreted. The album, 'Sant Allah' (Homage to God) in Senegal's Wolof language - marks a turning point for one of West Africa's most popular artists. N'Dour said "Every believer needs to take stock at some point of their spiritual life." Referring to the September 11 incident, he added "Sant Allah' is an album which promotes tolerance of my religion, which has been badly misused by a certain ideology." The album reportedly includes tributes to Muslim leaders such as Sheikh Amadou Bamba, founder of Senegal's Muslim brotherhood. The outspoken singer featured in Wyclef Jean's 'How Come,' from the soundtrack of the incendiary movie 'Bulworth,' which severely criticises US political practices.

In possession of a voice that can sear and wail one minute, and whisper gently in your ear the next, Youssou N'Dour has achieved the rare feat of successfully fusing traditional African music with western forms like Jazz, Rock and R & B. his 1994 hit with Neneh Cherry, 'Seven Seconds,' was a hit all over the world and won a Grammy nomination, making him the very first World Music international star. N'Dour's career began when he was a child, as his mother was a "Griot," part of a caste of professional singers. He was born the son of a mechanic in Senegal's capital Dakar in 1959, only months before the country's independence from France. He built up a reputation singing at traditional functions and formed his own group by the time he was 21. By now, African music was fashionable and Peter Gabriel, formerly of rock group 'Genesis,' was so impressed he invited N'Dour to duct on his album. He later took up the cause of many social issues including apartheid in South Africa and pollution in developing countries. His standing is such that when there was a problem with Dakar's electrical supply, he wrote a song about it, played it on the radio and the government quickly resolved the problem. He also believed that his music was a way of showing the positive side of Africa, as an antidote to the fixed western image of a continent beset by war, famine and AIDS.

The album 'Sant Allah,' will be on sale soon.


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Copyright © 2003 Weekly Trust. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). 

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