Young Philippe Ndour is the nephew of Senegalese pop star Youssou Ndour. And just like his uncle and his mother he wants to be a pop singer (see his Justin Bieber impression here). And like his uncle, Philippe dabbles in politics, though Philippe is starting young. The second round of presidential elections between President Abdoulaye Wade (he […]
Senegalese griot singer Coumba Gawlo Seck is a rising star both in her native country and in Europe. People also occasionally ask her about her political opinions. What makes Coumba Gawlo interesting is that she is a supporter of embattled Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade. (He is so unpopular that he has been forced to face […]
Youssou N’Dour’s campaign team today released the video for his presidential campaign song ‘Fekké Maci Boolé’. Strangely, N’dour’s official French facebook campaign’s biography (apart from punting the obligatory “Yes You can!” profile) only mentions the wives he wed and the children he has fathered. How will these details possibly help him win an election?
One decisive factor is N’dour’s shaky relationship to traditional Sufi religious authorities who have some sway in electoral politics. (Wade is very deferential to them.) In the past N’dour has riled them. In the most famous case, in 2004 N’dour recorded an album, “Egypt,” of Sufi Islamic praise music with the Egyptian national orchestra. The album won him a Grammy, but it was controversial in Senegal. (The album controversy forms the heart of the 2008 documentary “I Bring What I Love” — including objections by some Senegalese that the filmmakers film holy sites and religious rituals.) I wonder if N’dour has lived that down.
Today is Senegal’s independence day. Carlou D transformed himself from the rapper he was in Didier Awadi’s band Positive Black Soul to the singer-songwriter (supporting for Youssou N’Dour) he is these days, and did so in style. Although we’re still waiting for his new album ‘Audiovisa’ to come out, this song, ‘Ligueye’, should be on […]
Remember Aurelio Martinez’s 2004 album Garifuna Soul? The above song, ‘Wamada’, is taken from Laru Beya, his new star-studded album – members of Super Etoile de Dakar and Orchestra Baobab, amongst many others, make a guest-appearance. Aurelio turns this song (featuring Youssou N’Dour) into a beautiful homage to Andy Palacio.
Spotted in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. * T.I.A. stands for This is Africa, our new meme.
In a May 2, 2010 article in “The (UK) Guardian,” the singer Youssou N’Dour is quoted saying of the very unpopular Senegalese President, Abdoulaye Wade (above in the picture with N’Dour): ”I get the feeling the president hears only in mono, these days, not in stereo.” That’s the same N’Dour who for a long time played down any […]
On May 25th, 1963, the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union), composed of 32 newly independent African states, came into existence in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. * The clip is from the documentary film, “I Bring What I Love,” about the making of Youssouh N’Dour’s album of Sufi devotional songs, “Egypt.”
