The song was remixed by a variety of artists including Nas, Peter Buck of R.E.M., and Duncan Sheik to help raise money for the campaign. [26] He covered John Lennon's "Jealous Guy" for the 2007 CD Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur. Despite N'Dour's maternal connection to the traditional griot caste, he was not raised in that tradition, which he learned instead from his siblings. [23], N'Dour was nominated as Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on 16 October 2000.[24]. [32][33] However, he was disqualified from running in the election over the legitimacy of the signatures he had collected to endorse his campaign. In 2002, N'Dour was honoured with a Prince Claus Award, under that year's theme "Languages and transcultural forms of expression". [citation needed]. In 2003, N'Dour cancelled an upcoming American tour in order to publicly deny support for the upcoming American invasion of Iraq. [11] Although they quickly became one of the city's most popular bands[12], the group was short-lived due to internal problems. Youssou N'Dour (French pronunciation: [jusu (ɛ)nduʁ]; also known as Youssou Madjiguéne Ndour,[2] born 1 October 1959) is a Senegalese singer, songwriter, composer, occasional actor, businessman, and politician. [4][5] He is the subject of the award-winning films Return to Gorée (2007) directed by Pierre-Yves Borgeaud and Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love (2008) directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, which were released around the world. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible. Although patrilineally from the noble N'Dour family, his parents' world-view encouraged a modern outlook, leaving him open to two cultures and thereby inspiring N'Dour's identity as a modern griot. [25], He performed in three of the Live 8 concerts (in Live 8 concert, London, Live 8 concert, Paris and at the Live 8 concert, Eden Project in Cornwall) on 2 July 2005, with Dido. I believe that coming to America at this time would be perceived in many parts of the world--rightly or wrongly--as support for this policy, and that, as a consequence, it is inappropriate to perform in the US at this juncture. He was a featured performer in the 1988 worldwide Amnesty International Human Rights Now! Ref. [37] N'Dour was instead appointed as Special Adviser to the President, with the rank of minister,[38] and tasked with promoting the country abroad.[39]. Firefighters rescued two mountain lion cubs from a wildfire on Aug. 30 near Florence, Montana. Tour collaborating with Lou Reed on a version of the Peter Gabriel song "Biko" which was produced by Richard James Burgess and featured on the Amnesty International benefit album The Secret Policeman's Third Ball. Looking for something to watch? [30], N'Dour is a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism. Won. As a Muslim, he has often incorporated aspects of Islamic music in his work. Louis Feuillade, Director: Les vampires. In 2006, N'Dour played the role of the African-British abolitionist Olaudah Equiano in the movie Amazing Grace, which chronicled the efforts of William Wilberforce to end slavery in the British Empire. [28] The same year, Youssou N'Dour's microfinance organization named Birima ("Birima" is also a song's title) was launched with the collaboration of United Colors of Benetton. In 2008, he joined the Fondation Chirac's honour committee. In 1978, N'Dour would follow as several members of the Star Band left to form Étoile de Dakar, a band that made important contributions to Senegal's newly evolving musical style called Mbalax, a style incorporating traditional Senegalese music into the Latin styles that were popular. By 1991, he had opened his own recording studio, and, by 1995, his own record label, Jololi. In 2009, he released his song "Wake Up (It's Africa Calling)" under a Creative Commons license to help IntraHealth International in their IntraHealth Open campaign to bring open source health applications to Africa. As a matter of conscience I question the United States government's apparent intention to commence war in Iraq. Youssou N'Dour (French pronunciation: [jusu (ɛ)nduʁ]; also known as Youssou Madjiguéne Ndour, born 1 October 1959) is a Senegalese singer, songwriter, composer, occasional actor, businessman, and politician. Considine, J. D., and Matos, Michaelangelo, Hudson, Mark, essay in liner notes of "Once Upon a Time in Senegal", Etoile de Dakar, Sterns Music 2010, p. 14. [47], Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love (2008), Senegalese politician and singer-songwriter. 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[4][5] music njuup tradition and ndut initiation ceremonies. A prolific director--over 700 films, most of them short- or medium-length--Louis Feuillade began his career with Gaumont where, as well as directing his own features, he was appointed artistic director in charge of production in 1907. [7] He was born in Dakar. He appeared in a joint Spain-Senegal ad campaign to inform the African public about the dramatic consequences of illegal immigration. [citation needed] N'Dour participated in the Stock Exchange of Visions project in 2007.[27]. [31], At the beginning of 2012, he announced plans to stand as a candidate in the 2012 Senegalese presidential election, competing against President Abdoulaye Wade. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine described him as, "perhaps the most famous singer alive" in Senegal and much of Africa. [4] He started performing at age 12 and would later perform regularly with the Star Band, Dakar's most popular group during the 1970s. N'Dour was appointed as Minister of Culture and Tourism in April 2012 as part of the cabinet of new Prime Minister Abdoul Mbaye. Choose an adventure below and discover your next favorite movie or TV show. [4][7] However, culturally, N'Dour is Wolof. Keep your little bookworms engaged outside of the classroom with our selection of the very best literary adaptations.