Tag Archives: youssou n’dour

Random recent musical notes

  February 23, 2012 - 1:01 pm | , , , , ,
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A few odds and ends from the musical world recently… A new double CD out on Stern’s of the late Guinean great Sory Kandia Kouyaté. Info, and some music here. Feel free to crank up the volume. Baaba Maal on the food crisis in Mauritania Reports from Senegal recently are that Youssou n’Dour was injured in the leg by a tear gas canister in the unrest over the election situation (and the court decision to not allow him to run for president). See also earlier post on this site And taking another musical perspective on serious political struggles, while the … Continue reading →

Youssou n’Dour’s run for the Presidency in trouble

  January 29, 2012 - 5:53 pm | ,
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(Photo from his 2008 concert as part of the Toronto International Film Festival) The Senegalese star’s plan to run for the presidency of that country hit a major roadblock recently. The Constitutional Council of Senegal on Friday rejected his bid, claiming he had many invalid signatures on his application. However, it did approve 85 year old President Abdoulaye Wade’s bid for a third term — something n’Dour and other opposition figures claim is illegal and unconstitutional. From the Vancouver Sun, Jan. 28: N’Dour described the outcome as a “takeover by force” by Wade, who was first elected in 2000 for … Continue reading →

Youssou N’Dour to Put Music on Hold and Turn to Politics

  November 29, 2011 - 4:49 pm | ,
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From the New York Times“Arts Beat”: With his country gearing up for a hotly contested presidential election early next year the Senegalese singer and songwriter Youssou N’Dour, one of the biggest stars of the “world music” genre, is putting his career on hold to plunge into the political fray. It’s not clear in what capacity — as a candidate for public office himself, or just lending his prestige and support to someone already in the running — or for how long, but he made the announcement over the weekend and set a date to stop performing. Read the full article … Continue reading →