Before Youssou was ‘Monsieur le Ministre’

By ⋅ April 5, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment
Youssou performing in Dakar at a Macky Sall victory concert. (Photo: Andy Bowley)

Youssou performing in Dakar at a Macky Sall victory concert. (Photo: Andy Bowley)

Youssou N’dour has been named the Minister for Culture and Tourism in Senegal under the administration of just-elected Macky Sall. But it’s unknown what kind of crimp that’ll put on his performance schedule.

Take a look at this brief excerpt of Youssou strutting his stuff on stage in Dakar at a Macky Sall victory concert he gave this past Monday.

Judging from those moves, it’s hard to imagine that irrepressible energy getting diluted by something like a ministerial post.

One scenario is that the post will keep him busy, and Youssou N’dour uses it to launch him further into career politics.

Another scenario is that perhaps Macky Sall gave Youssou the post in the same way some big campaign donors in the US get ambassadorial posts in a new administration.

If it’s the latter scenario, expect Youssou N’dour to be much more engaged musically in the near future.

Postscript: the above video (and still) was shot by the talented Andy Bowley, the videographer who shot all of the forthcoming documentary “Shakin’ the Tree” (working title), which will be featured in the upcoming episode of PBS Sound Tracks: Music Without Borders. It was a hellish concert to shoot says Bowley. He had a hard time maintaining his position in front of the stage. There was a lot of jostling, not to mention getting bumped by police who had to bring in stretchers for spectators who got injured during a melee near the end of the show. Apparently, the next evening’s celebration concert given by rappers from the Y en a marre coalition and Ivorian reggae activist Tiken Jah Fakoly was more chill and enjoyable.


Discussion

One comment for “Before Youssou was ‘Monsieur le Ministre’”

  • bell larson

      I wish (Youssou Ndour) the best, he is  a great guy and wonderful musician.     However, all things considered Senegal is in an economic downfall spiral and these elected official need   the address these economic concerns driven by poor leadership, corruption and abuse of power.  That being said forty years ago, Senegal had the
    best-educated population and most progressive economy in Africa. Somehow   within twenty years most specifically under the leadership of Wade, Senegal ranks among  the poorest countries in the world.
     
    President-elect Macky Sall administration should engage all Senegalese in   the fundamental aspect of economic development, in educated the masses, provide basic and relative healthcare, fostering the right policies to attract national and international investment, instill  the balance of power  (executive, legislative and Judicial) the courts must be independent  from all other branches  of government , wile judges must be appointed by the President and confirm by the assembly. among   others…
     
     And last bring those leaders (Wade, his son Karim, various government cronies and ministers   that have failed their  electoral obligations before a court, they should be   vigorously reinvested  for corruption, abuse of power, embezzled funds,  forensic accounting should be utilized to pluck out  stolen  and hidden funds, and cease Karim Wade two gulf stream Jets .     
     
    Good luck Senegal .