A pioneer of African music on the global stage and a leading figure in 1990s World Music, Youssou N’Dour, born in Dakar in 1959, began his artistic journey playing in several local bands, specializing above all in balax—a traditional Senegalese genre that he helped modernize and popularize by blending traditional percussion with electric guitar and other instruments from the pop music world.
In the 1980s, he began performing in Europe, collaborating with artists such as Peter Gabriel (with whom he co-wrote Shaking the Tree) and Sting, and recording the album The Lion for Virgin Records.
International fame came in 1994 with the release of The Guide, which featured the hit song 7 Seconds, a duet with Neneh Cherry supported by a highly impactful video. Over the years, he has collaborated with numerous Italian artists, including Giorgia, Francesco Renga, and Irene Grandi, and appeared as a guest at the Sanremo Music Festival.
A passionate advocate for peace and cultural dialogue, N’Dour was appointed Senegal’s Minister of Tourism and Culture in 2012 by President Macky Sall, though he later returned to his musical career—always staying connected to his homeland’s traditions while also exploring Arab music influences.
Those who have seen him perform live know that “electrifying” is no exaggeration.
