Youssou Ndoure the musician is bigger than Senegal. To describe him as a mere music super star is an understatement. He is bigger than that… much bigger. He is an icon. His charm rocks the world. His influence and presence boost Africa’s image from afar. And above all, his artistic journey is the perfect riposte to anyone who doubts Africa’s contribution to the rest of the world.The New York Times described Youssou Ndoure’s voice as an “arresting tenor, a supple weapon deployed with prophetic authority”. Rolling Stone described him as "perhaps the most famous singer alive" in Senegal and much of Africa.
Mbalax revolution
In the 1970s, the then little known and young Youssou began a music career in his home city of Dakar. Within two decades, he rose to international fame thanks to his brand new genre: a mixture of less fancied Senegalese mbalax (mainly the param parum param sound of drums) with Cuban samba, American hip hop, jazz, rock and soul. This is Youssou’s creation! Today, millions of people from all over the world form his fan base.
By Sheriff Bojang Jnr
As a singer, songwriter and percussionist, Youssou over the years performed with some of the greatest artists of the century… Tracy Chapman, Peter Gabriel, Sting, Wyclef, Paul Simon, Dido, Axelle Red, Bruce Springsteen, Branford Marsalis… you name them. His collaboration with Neneh Cherry for the international hit 7 Seconds is one of his most celebrated partnerships.
Achievements
The 52-year-old’s achievements as a musician are beyond imagination. Last year, he officially became Dr. Youssou Ndoure after Yale University awarded him with an honorary doctoral degree. In 2005, he won the Grammy Award for his 2004 super-cool but controversial album, Egypt. He served as Goodwill Ambassador for various international organizations, including UNICEF and FAO, performed at several charity shows and supported several social and political causes. Together with Axelle Red, Youssou wrote and performed "La Cour des Grands", the official anthem of the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.
He even played a lead role in the 2006 slavery movie, Amazing Grace, which chronicles the efforts of William Wilberforce to end slavery in the British Empire. Youssou played the role of Olaudah Equino, the African-British abolitionist.
The media empire
 |
| I was interviewing Youssou in 2010 |
The bid for presidential palace
Youssou Ndoure has conquered every sector with conviction and courage. But to many people’s surprise, he is now eyeing for the highest seat of his land. In the late hours of January 2, he went on his TV to officially declare his presidential bid for the February presidency. He had always stayed away from local politics in the past. This is the first time he is taking a visual stand in Senegal’s politics. And questions have been pouring in: Why is he contesting? Is he joking? Who advised him to contest? Is he electable?
And his answer: "For a long time, men and women have demonstrated their optimism, dreaming of a new Senegal. They have, in various ways, called for my candidacy in the February presidential race. I listened. I heard.”
Like many of his countrymen and women, Youssou’s presidential bid came as a surprise to me. I first interviewed him in April 2010 and when I quizzed him on the rumour that he was preparing for a political career, his answer was short and confusing: ‘As a Senegalese citizen, I will exercise my rights and join others to change Senegal’.
After that, I interviewed Youssou three more times and I must say that the more the political thing came up on each of the occasions, the more I was left confused and clueless as to what he was planning to do. But here we go… finally.
Youssou’s advantages over the rest
So far, Youssou is vying for the presidential palace with at least 18 others including incumbent leader, Abdoulaye Wade, four ex-prime ministers, one of Senegal's most celebrated lawyers, career diplomats and veteran politicians.
Most of his opponents will be busy selling their names to the electorate and he will not because 'Youssou Ndoure' is already a brand name in Senegal the same way it is in many parts of the world. African politics is about money and they will sweat for every penny to fund their campaign (or buy votes) but this won’t be the case for Youssou because he already has money to spend.
In every election worldwide, the media sets the agenda and sometimes decide who wins and who loses. Youssou’s opponents will be bothered by media publicity but this won’t give him a sleepless night because he owns and controls Senegal’s most popular media group.Most of the opponents have been in the government before and they will have to work hard to convince voters of their past records. Youssou will have to skip that turbulent part of the race because this does not apply to him.
And most importantly, whoever is going to win the February race will have to lay down employment plans to the voters. Youssou will have less to do here because through his media group and nightclub, he has created thousands of jobs already and feeding perhaps hundreds of thousands more.
But African politics is not just about clean records and personal successes.
Why Youssou will not win
Senegal is a bizarre country where too much emphasis is placed on education (as in school education), where people are trusted merely because of academic intellect, and where you stay in school too long that you end up riding in the same school bus as your son or daughter. Youssou is the least educated among the contenders. He is just a little junior school drop-out while his opponents are university professors, lawyers, doctors, geologists etc.
Youssou even acknowledged the value of education in this race during his televised presidential bid announcement. ‘It is true that I do not have a university education – but the presidency is not something you go to school for." He went on to talk about his global experience and connections and so on. Of course, experience is the best teacher and he graduated from the school of life experience. But I doubt if his lack of higher education won’t work against him.
Secondly, politics in our part of the world is a game for veterans. Youssou is a fresh fish in the pond and the old ones who have been there for decades play the game better. This is a dirty, cruel and sad game. It’s no scrabble or tennis.
In politics and in election times, politicians do whatever they have to do and say whatever they have to say to win whatever. They throw away whatever dignity or decency they have. They drop whatever values they believe in. They make promises they know they cannot fulfill. They lie blatantly.
As everyday politician, you face the crowd and look at a helpless mother in the eye with her baby on her back and tell her ‘if I win, your child will have a good future’ when you know very well that the poor mother and her child and millions like them will never be your priority.
You say YES when you mean NO. You detach yourself from your roots and easily forget those who put you in power. This is the everyday successful politician and this is the game he plays. Politicians are naughty… and I mean all politicians. I don’t care if my friend’s father or uncle is.
But Youssou Ndoure is a wise man, a good man and a decent man. He is what he is today because of his strong family values, his bond with the poor and his dignity. He is too good, too proud and too innocent to play the dirty and cruel game of politics. And unless he plays, he won’t win. One month is not enough time for him to become naughty even if he wants to.
Thirdly, Youssou is used to attracting crowds. But let’s be clear. Anytime he faces a crowd, they are his fans… hundreds and thousands of them who gather to sing with him, dance with him and shed tears for him, his voice, his lyrics, melody. Political arena is not a dance stage. For once, all the songs, lyrics and everything will stop and the political crowd of both supporters and critics will listen to Youssou on what he has for them. Any word that comes out of his mouth will make or break his presidential bid.
Politics is character assassination and for once, Youssou’s strength and endurance as politician will be tested. He will be mocked and ridiculed. His personal life (which he has worked so hard in keeping from public) will be exposed. Even his children will be victims. Lies will be fabricated against him and his family. He will be insulted with the intention of breaking him down. Of course some of his family and friends will be more affected than others. Is decent Youssou thick-skinned enough not to flinch? I don’t think so. Will he fight back the same ruthless way? Absolutely NO!
Back the victoriousYoussou Ndoure the musician has a very strong fan base in Senegal and some of them are already worried that his political life might dampen his music career. I say to them: Never! Youssou’s songs are just too good to be hated by even his main opponent, President Wade. You can hate the man but you can’t stop spending your bucks buying his CD or attending his concert. But unfortunately, his fan base will very unlikely translate into votes this time.
However, I bet that while Youssou is not electable this year, whoever he backs at any stage of the race will win the presidency. Whether he chooses to do so now or at a later stage doesn’t matter. But I am certain that whoever is to win must be endorsed by Youssou first.
Learning the Wyclef way
Youssou and US-based Haitian rapper and producer, Wyclef Jean collaborated a little over a decade ago for Diallo, a track (in Wyclef’s album The Ecleftic) in memory of Amadou Diallo, a 23-year-old Guinea immigrant shot dead by four officers of the New York Police Department. Since then, Youssou and Wyclef built a strong friendship and the two collaborated for other singles.
Wyclef’s popular song If I was President was a great success. But after a failed presidential bid in Haiti, the millionaire platinum-selling rapper must have since realized that a mere lyrical wish of becoming a president doesn't make one a president.
Youssou Ndoure might as well realize that 7 Seconds success in music is not 7 Seconds success in politics.
No comments:
Post a Comment