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Quote by Youssou N'Dour

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

Quote by Youssou N'Dour

Author

Youssou N'Dour, born on October 1, 1959, is a renowned Senegalese singer. He is highly regarded in the global music scene for his unique voice and musical talent. N'Dour's music style blends traditional African music with modern pop elements, making him a significant representative of world music. more

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

World Different Together Music Is Different Place World Music

Author:Youssou N'Dour

“I don't want to see that two-tier Senegal, that two-tier Africa, when you have those at the top and those at the bottom, people who are hungry, people who do not have enough to eat.”

People Want Two Enough Bottom Hungry

Author: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.”

Thinking World Ideas Culture Fit Standards Concepts Western Related Sufism Dominant

Author:Youssou N'Dour

“If you come from Africa with your economic poverty and your cultural riches, and you meet someone like Peter Gabriel or a person from a big record company, and they tell you that what you are doing is marvelous, that makes you feel powerful.”

Ifs Feels Persons Bigs Powerful Company Poverty Records Economic Riches Peter Marvelous Record Companies Gabriel

Author:Youssou N'Dour

“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.”

Culture Attitude Percent West Islamic Mistaken Fundamentalist Islamic Faith

Author:Youssou N'Dour

“Either you think, or else others have to think for you and take power from you, pervert and discipline your natural tastes, civilize and sterilize you.”

Thinking Natural Discipline Taste Tender Is The Night

Book:Three Novels: Tender is the Night; The Beautiful and Damned; Thi

Source: Three Novels: Tender is the Night; The Beautiful and Damned; Thi

“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.”

Ideas Social Messages Connections Sake Entertainment Discussion Vehicle

Author:Youssou N'Dour

“The question of modernization is central to disturbances in the Middle East and in Africa. Everyone is after modernization, no matter where they come from. But you have to be careful about it, and more importantly, you have to have sense about it.”

Matter Middle Careful East Be Careful Middle East Disturbance Modernization

Author: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!”

Way Giving Company Records Havens Musician Bigger Western Best Way Lots Of Money Wrong Way Record Companies

Author: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.”

People Needs I Can Country Helping Isolation

Author:Youssou N'Dour