Photo: Kotoviski photograph by Henryk Kotowski / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
To me, Youssou N'Dour is one of those rare figures who refused to choose between art and responsibility. He carried Senegal's mbalax sound to the world and then walked straight into government as a minister, which tells me he saw music and public service as the same act of moving people. The Polar Music Prize and Praemium Imperiale confirm his stature, but what I admire most is that he never traded his roots for global polish. He stayed unmistakably Dakar. That kind of grounded ambition, voice first and always, is exactly the artist I respect.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Youssou N’Dour
- Name (Japanese)
- ユッスー・ンドゥール
- Reading
- ゆっすー・んどぅーる
- Born
- October 1, 1959 (age 66)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Boar
- Origin
- Dakar, Dakar Department, Senegal
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- politician / singer-songwriter / singer / minister
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- 2002 Prince Claus Award
- 2013 Polar Music Prize
- 2017 Praemium Imperiale
- 2005 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album
- 2022 La Mar de Músicas
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Youssou N’Dour born?
Born October 1, 1959 (age 66).
Where is Youssou N’Dour from?
Youssou N’Dour is from Dakar, Dakar Department, Senegal.
What does Youssou N’Dour do?
Youssou N’Dour works as politician, singer-songwriter, singer, minister.
Politician — see all → · Singer-songwriter — see all → · More people from Senegal →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.