Quotes by Youssou N'Dour

About Youssou N'Dour:

Youssou N'Dour is a Senegalese singer, percussionist, songwriter, composer, occasional actor, businessman and a politician. In 2004, Rolling Stone described him as, "perhaps the most famous singer alive" in Senegal and much of Africa. From April 2012 to October 2012, he was Senegal's Minister of Tourism and Culture, and from October 2012 to September 2013, he was Senegal's Minister of Tourism and Leisure.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

In the West, you have always associated the Islamic faith 100 percent with Arab culture. This in itself is a fundamentalist attitude and it is mistaken.

Youssou N'Dour

Politics is politics; art is art. If you play a political role, you have to stop being an artist.

Youssou N'Dour

Western record companies haven't always dealt with African musicians in the best way. Giving them a lot of money and telling them they're going to be bigger than Phil Collins is the wrong way to do it!

Youssou N'Dour

I think people should know more of Africa in terms of its joie de vivre, its feeling for life. In spite of the images that one knows about Africa - the economic poverty, the corruption - there's a joy to living and a happiness in community, living to...

Youssou N'Dour

World music is about taking things from different places and bringing them together - which is great.

Youssou N'Dour

I have to protect my family and have a life with them that is completely private.

Youssou N'Dour

My father used to tell me about how musicians don't have respect from people and he was afraid about my future.

Youssou N'Dour

Travel teaches as much as books.

Youssou N'Dour

I'm a modern Muslim. I pray, and if I have a question, I ask someone who is more educated in the religion than me.

Youssou N'Dour

Islam is a peaceful religion.

Youssou N'Dour

I look at my people, and I look at those who control them - the political elite. And the sad thing is that the elites are just not interested in the welfare of the people.

Youssou N'Dour

I respect music, I do. I love it.

Youssou N'Dour

I love meeting interesting people and doing things with them.

Youssou N'Dour

I really want to bring the message of love that is Islam to people; bring something new to that familiar face.

Youssou N'Dour

I think that Sufism fits all over the world. The concept is not anything that fits standard Western ideas - it's always related to culture, to music, to religion. It is a dominant religion in Senegal.

Youssou N'Dour

I want to use my music to deliver a political message and sometimes to denounce, but I don't want to be a politician.

Youssou N'Dour

When the slaves left Africa, they left us this music. They left us blues.

Youssou N'Dour

When I'm in Senegal, I can't just sit in isolation making music. People need my help. And the Senegalese people helped create my music. It comes from the country itself.

Youssou N'Dour

Music in Africa often contains messages. Music in Senegal, and Africa, is never music for music's sake or solely for entertainment. It's always a vehicle for social connections, discussions and ideas.

Youssou N'Dour

My music is like a spinning ball. It can turn in one direction, and then it comes back to origins.

Youssou N'Dour

Author Bio

  • NameYoussou N'Dour
  • DescriptionSenegalese politician
  • BornOctober 1, 1959
  • CountrySenegal
  • ProfessionPolitician; Singer-songwriter
  • AwardsPrince Claus Awards