BBC - Radio 3 - Womad2005 - Youssou N'Dour

YOUSSOU N'DOUR & SUPER ETOILE de DAKAR (SENEGAL)

See pictures from the performance

What more can you say about Youssou N'Dour? What other words can be found that could genuinely do justice to the man named 'African artist of the century' by fRoots magazine? Having revolutionised Senegalese music at the tail-end of the 1970s when he took the dominant Afro-Cuban styles and introduced them to rootsier indigenous dance rhythms, Youssou's keening, plaintive tenor has become the continent's most instantly recognisable voice.

For an international superstar who can't be short of a bob or two, he's also unfeasibly prolific, dashing out innumerable releases for the West African market between his none-too-slack schedule of internationally released albums. And his sense of curiosity is still strong. Never one to play the easy game or to take the shortest route, Youssou's album of last year, Egypt, found him in the company of an Egyptian orchestra as he investigated Senegal's Muslim cultural traditions.

He first appeared on a WOMAD stage back in Clevedon in 1986; almost 20 years later and still in the company of his seriously elastic band Super Etoile de Dakar, Youssou hasn't lost an ounce of his ability - or his enthusiasm - to connect with people beyond the limitations of language. The flame still burns.

Nige Tassell

Youssou N'Dour official website
Profile and music clips
Album review
Radio 3 profile

Catch him on Saturday 10.00pm-midnight, Open Air Stage

Read other people's comments then

Tell us what you think:

buga wah (gambia)
this man is the best thing that ever happen to african music. his music makes cry at times especially when watching him play. he is incredibly tallented.

jobe
world greatest singer

Shiva New York
I really think Youssou N'Dour at Womad is the Bob Dylan of African music

fatma uk
It will be more ideal if you guys bring musicians from other parts of the world apart from Europe and America we don't need them here because we litsen to them daily we want new things. youssou is the best

Uganda
Youssou is great!. His lyrics carry your soul away, the outstanding talents of his band make eveything float..!!!

Carolyn Hannigan - Oklahoma City, USA
The rythym of the music is passionate and difficult to avoid involuntarily moving to the beat. Thank Goodness for the internet or I would likely not have heard this glorious enteratiner. THANKS BBC radio.

Alva, from West Los Angeles
Youssou N'Dour provides just another one of those open doors, into deep psychic regions, of the esoteric music experience... Language is not really necessary. A basic understanding, of the words, however, does enhance the listening experience.

Simon Harrogate
Not abel to make Reading , but saw him at the Harrogate Festival the following night. Incredible concert, did anyone sit in their seat the whole night? Fantastic atmosphere provided by the huge Senegalese community that travelled from all over the north of England. The world music programme at Harrogate which also had Afro Cuban All Stars, Cibelle s well as Van Morrison takes some beating for us Yorkshire folk!

Adri Zegers, the Netherlands
Always many emotions, when I am listening Youssou N'Dour. I live a great part of the year in the South of Senegal, where we organise musical workshops.

Bill Foster
Saturday night's set was magical, my personal highlight of the festival. He's the man!

Dave, Wales
I really think Youssou N'Dour at Womad this year was the best concert I have ever seen. It was mindblowing.