Library weekly: Youssou N'Dour

On 1 October 1959 the Senegalese singer, songwriter, musician, composer, occasional actor, businessman, and politician was born. N'Dour helped develop a style of popular Senegalese music known by all Senegambians (including the Wolof) as mbalax, a genre that has sacred origins in the Serer music njuup tradition and ndut initiation ceremonies. He is the subject of the award-winning film Return to Gorée (2007) directed by Pierre-Yves Borgeaud. In Senegal, N'Dour became a powerful cultural icon, actively involved in social issues. Youssou N'Dour is featured in our library weekly.