Youssou Ndour

Bio | Human Rights | Timeline | New Africa Song

Biography

At a time when mass media tends to focus on Africa’s wars and famines, fuelling the already engrained negative stereotypes of the continent, Youssou Ndour has remained a beacon of positive energy.

Born in 1959, this Senegalese singer, songwriter, and composer is one of the most celebrated African musicians of all time. Youssou Ndours ‘liquid gold’ voice has captivated people the world over and his songs have sparked social movements.
This Grammy Award winning musician has dedicated much of his energy and resources to humanitarian causes and this year he marks 20 years as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Inspired by his acclaimed song ‘New Africa’ Youssou Ndour has started this movement to bring people together to share positive stories from the continent and inspire each other.


Youssou Ndours Human Rights commitments

  • UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
  • Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
  • Honorary Ambassador of the International Labour Organisation Global Campaign Against Child Labour
  • Ambassador for the Roll Back Malaria Partnership
  • Board of ‘Malaria No More’ US
  • Member of the World Future Council
  • Ambassador for the Global Digital Solidarity Movement
  • International Red Cross
  • United Nations Anti-Landmine campaign
  • IntraHealth International
  • Amnesty International

Timeline

  • 1984 – Joined Band Aid for Ethiopia
  • 1985 – Organized a concert for the release of Nelson Mandela
  • 1988 – Performed at Human Rights Now! A worldwide tour of 20 benefit concerts for Amnesty International
  • 1990 – Video music project ‘Viva Mandela’ and performed at a concert in Mandela’s honour at London’s Wembley Arena.
  • 1998 – Supporter of the Jubilee 2000, an international coalition movement in over 40 countries that called for cancellation of third world debt by the year 2000
  • 1999 – Youssou N’Dour participated in a TeleFood concert in Senegal
  • 2000 – Started Project Joko which saw the opening of internet cafés around Senegal. Pioneering a New Business Model to Bridge the Digital Divide
  • 2005 – ‘Africa Live’ “Africa Live: The Roll Back Malaria Concert,” a 60-minute concert documentary conceived by Youssou N’Dour and Mick Csaky.
  • 2005 – Won Grammy Award (best contemporary world music album) for his album ‘Egypt’.
  • 2007 – Featured on the album Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur
  • 2007 – Participated at the G8 meetings
  • 2007 – Performed at Rockstock in the ‘Your Voice Against Poverty’ concert to convince member states to increase their efforts to fights AIDS in Africa.
  • 2008 – Founded Birima, a microfinance institution in Senegal
  • 2009 – Released “Wake Up (It’s Africa Calling)” – IntraHealth Open campaign.
  • 2009 – “Surround Sound: Senegal”, a campaign to encourage people to use mosquito nets and seek treatment.
  • 2009 – The Youssou Ndour Foundation distributed 16,000 nets to the Linguere region, Senegal
  • 2010 – Ambassadors to the African Union for the Year of Peace and Security in Africa
  • 2011 – Honorary degree Yale University – Doctor of Music

NEW AFRICA SONG Lyrics

I am Youssou Ndour

Calling all Africans

Asking you to share ideas
And come together to a meeting of minds
Without borders, lets pool our resources and work together

Let’s come together and let nothing pull us apart

You heads of state
You may lead a country
But you don’t own it
True leaders love their country
Although we can ask for help
Let’s depend on ourselves first

We are Africans

When the sun comes up
Be on your feet
Ready with your tools of trade

The day passes very quickly
Let’s confront our problems one at a time
United we are stronger

A long road lies ahead
We have much to do
So let’s get ready

When I think of how our grandparents suffered I cry
But our past must not stop us from moving forward

I dream to see Africans unified by a common vision
Let’s marshal our ideas, our energies
Open the borders and come together

Change your thinking
Work together
Keep on working

Cheikh Anta Diop, Kwame Nkrumah, Steven Biko, Nelson Mandela

All you people

AFRICA