On this day in 1959, Grammy award winner, Youssou N'Dour was born in Dakar. The Senegalese singer, percussionist, actor and activist is perhaps the most famous African musician of all time. His music mixes Afro-Cuban, traditional griot percussion, praise singing, jazz, soul and pop into a style that's become known as Mbalax. Youssou's social activism is legendary, he organized the 1985 concert to free Nelson Mandela, and was the featured performer for the 1988 worldwide Amnesty International Human Rights Now! Tour. As the owner of one of Senegal's largest newspapers (L'Observateur) and radio stations (RFM), communication is important to Youssou, which is why he started Project Joko an organization dedicated to opening internet cafés in Africa to connect Senegalese communities around the world. Outside of Africa, Youssou N'dour is perhaps best known for his collaborations with such wide spread recording artists as Lou Reed, Peter Gabriel, Sting, Dido, Neneh Cherry, Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman, Branford Marsalis, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Wyclef Jean and Paul Simon. Below is a trailer for the feature film Return to Goree, which follows Youssou as he traces the trail left by slaves from Africa to around the world and the jazz music they created.
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