Yousou N'Dour et Le Super Etoile de Dakar - Senegal

Back at the Africa Festival Hertme after 9 years

In the early 1970s, as a 12-year-old boy, Youssou N’Dour heard the ‘Star Band’ rehearsing. At the time, it was the most popular group in Dakar, and he wanted to sing with them. Thanks to his exceptional voice, he succeeded. In 1979, he formed his own band, ‘Étoile de Dakar’. In his early work with ‘Étoile de Dakar’, you can recognize the typical Latin-American style that was popular in Africa at the time. Later, in the mid-1980s, he developed his own ‘mbalax style’ with ‘Le Super Étoile de Dakar’—a mix of traditional Wolof music, pop, reggae, and funk.

For Western audiences, N'Dour is best known for his 1986 collaboration with Peter Gabriel and for his 1994 worldwide hit ‘7 Seconds’ with Neneh Cherry. N'Dour is deeply committed to various social and political causes. In 1985, he organized a concert calling for Nelson Mandela’s release. He toured for Amnesty International and worked with the United Nations and UNICEF. Because of these efforts, the Prince Claus Fund awarded him a prize in 2002. “His worldwide success as a singer, composer, bandleader, and producer is used in service of society. Through his music, he provides social commentary and promotes tolerance and intercultural dialogue,” stated the jury.

With his 1984 album Immigrés, he called on Senegalese people building a new life in Europe not to forget where they came from. With Egypt (2004), he honored the spiritual leaders of Senegalese Sufi Islam. In 2012, he entered Senegalese politics and briefly served as Minister of Culture and Tourism. In 2013, he returned to the global music stage. With his song One Africa, he aimed to bring hope to the recent religious conflicts in the Central African Republic. In the video clip, he, a Muslim, sings a duet with the Christian singer Idylle Mamba. He says: “I want to show that religions are not an obstacle but rather an enrichment. All the problems in Africa come down to the distribution of wealth, which pushes people in a certain direction. That is what causes frustration.”

In 2016, Youssou N'Dour also performed at the Africa Festival. Coincidentally, that edition also welcomed Pat Thomas & the Kwashibu Area Band. After a rainy start to the morning, the sun shone brightly over a cheerful sea of people.