7 Seconds with Youssou N’Dour

My interview with world musician Youssou N’Dour at his home in Dakar, Senegal in May 2007.

You have just come back from New York – what were you doing there?

“I was invited by Time magazine. Every year they nominate the 100 most influential persons around the world, sometimes artistically or politically. I was there with my band, we played a song and received the award. It was great.”

You have your music, your humanitarian work, your record label, your radio station, your night club, you own a newspaper. How do you find time for everything?

“I have a lot of people who work with me and different projects are led by professional people who know exactly what’s going on. I find that music is not enough, I have the energy to do more than just play music and do my album. I think it is important that people think about the other, about people who have a lot of problems.”

I saw you play at Live 8 and the aim of those concerts was to make poverty history. What still needs to happen?

“What we have to do is tell the leaders that it’s enough now for the declaration of intention and it’s time for action. They haven’t realised even 20% of the promises and we are waiting and waiting.”

Tell me about your new album, Alsaama Day.

“It’s an album with this man Bahmodi. He is a guitar player and a composer and it’s music coming from the north of Senegal, between Senegal and Mauritanie. I’m talking about my society, what I think is really inside the album. Some songs are [already] released here [in Senegal] and in September around the world.”

The style of music you play is called Mbalax. How do you define that?

“Mbalax is a rhythm, coming from the Griot and the Wolof – Wolof is my first language. This is played by more than six percussionists and each has a specialty. When they play together this is what we call Mbalax. This style of playing we link to the modern instruments, such as the keyboard and the guitar. Mbalax is really popular here but it’s not the only music we have in Senegal.”

Can you explain what it means to be Griot?

“Griot means storytellers, the memory. Before TV or radio the Griot were people who tell you who you are, who you connect with, where you’re coming from. The Griot also make you laugh. They are percussion players, guitar players or singers. On my mother’s side I’m Griot and I think I take a lot of things from my mum.”

Where do you spend your time?

“I can fly everywhere but I’m based in Dakar and I think that’s very important for my music and for my family. People here in Senegal look up at me and all the things I’m doing. This decision is right for me but is also something really great for young people for the future.”

What’s it like to be famous in Senegal?

“It’s really difficult. I have a great team with me, they help me a lot. I like to go to the people, even though it’s sometimes really tough. Sometimes I fly to different places where I’m not popular, so I can have a vacation and be peaceful. Here in Dakar the rhythm is crazy sometimes.”

What are your favourite places in Dakar?

“I think the Medina is very important, you can see a lot of restaurants, a lot of talent, you can see real life. But my favourite place is where you can take the boat to Goree Island, all this area is beautiful. There’s a great fortress and everything is very old. It’s really fantastic. It’s peaceful because there are no cars, you walk everywhere.”

You wanted to be a football player when you were a child. What made you choose music instead?

“Like many people I was playing football everywhere on the streets. When I really touched the music it was more powerful for me but I still really like football.”

You were recently in a film, Amazing Grace. What made you decide to take on that project?

“This movie is about the abolition of the slave trade in England and it was a big debate in the parliament. Someone called Olaudah Equiano and the role this man played in the abolition of slavery. Physically we have the same appearance and also what he did was bring his talent to the west and this is what I’m trying to do with my music. It was a great experience for me.”

What is important to you?

“To have the chance to have a job that is a passion and to have a family and to have understood the responsibility of your kids and see how they are growing. And justice for everybody is really important.”

How many children do you have?

“The oldest is 25 and the little one is six months. I think kids are really great. I have seven. My father has 17 but it doesn’t mean I’m going to have 17!”

What are you most proud of?

“I think really my foundation. My foundation does a lot of things and has big plans for rolling back malaria and AIDS. The foundation started five years ago but I’ve been doing humanitarian things for 20 years now.”

What is left for you to achieve?

“It’s very difficult to say this is the thing. My big satisfaction is that I’ve touched the world with my music, while also staying in Dakar. This is really something amazing.”

The article was published in Anyway magazine in 2007 with photographs by Peter Garmusch. The photo of Youssou N’Dour used above is by erinc salor on Flickr and reproduced here under a Creative Commons licence.
Read the story behind the interview.