He is not a praise or love singing artist. His main topics are injustise, injustise in the Cassamance region, towards the Tuareg people and the "shadow people" in Senegal. N'Diaye is also an actor.

Formed the band Etoile de Dakar in 1979, this was a big success in Senegal. (The band splitted up in 81, becoming Super Etoile de Dakar, with N'Dour, and Etoile 2000, the rival band.). In (Super) Etoile de Dakar Mr. N'Dour created a new music style, the Mbalax. The co-creator of Super Etiole, guitar player Jimi Mbaye, is another important artist in this prosess. First move was to transform the rhythms from the mbung mbung drums to rhythm guitars. He transformed other traditional elements to the keyboard and to the lead guitar. Then he added other Arfo-cuban elements and some elements from American pop music, and there it was, the new style Mbalax. 

Beside Baaba Maal, N'Dour is the most successful musician in Senegal. 

A major reason for his success are the topics in his lyrics. N'Dour theme are things people can relate to, and he is singing for women! An other reason is his contacts, he's a friend of Peter Gabriel. 
Anyway, N'Dour is a great artist and a great ambassador of his homeland.

Youssou N'Dour at Jololi - The rhythms of Senegal

Nkosi picked up a used saxophone, and expanded his session career. The jive became harder, this new style was desciribed as mbaqanga, or "homemade". Nkosi started touring with other bands, and he was connected with Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens a groaning vocal group. 

Now he is producing and managing them, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and others.

The "Chief Commander", is born in western Nigeria in 1942. He started his first band International Brothers in 1964. He renamed them, to Inter-Reformers in 1970. "Chief Commander" modernized juju, introducing funkyer yoroba drums, and more Western (bluesy) guitars. 

The rivalery between "King" Sunny Ade and "Chief Commander" Ebenezer Obey was one of the key factors in progression the juju style from mid 70s and up till now. Juju moved from a high-life infuenced style, to genuine, Nigerian Yoroba music.

They recorded about 20 LP's in the 70's and first part of the 80's. OA lost their leading position in late 70's. Other bands i.e. Etiole de Dakar (Youssou N'Dour) created new sounds and rhythms, -Mbalax music. In 1982 they recorded "Pirates' Choise", an album that gave them cult status among DJ's after the bands death. The title is a reference to the enormous appeal the band had to the bootleggers. It was re-issued in 1989 by World Circuit.

In 2001 World Circuit and Nick Gold decided to re-issue Pirates' Choice once again. He also managed to persuade the core members of Orchestra Baobab to come together again as a band. So far this has resulted in a new album, "Specialts in All Styles", produced by Nick Gold and Yousou N'Dour (a bit ironic?). N'Dour and Ibrahim Ferrer (Buena Vista Social Club) are guest artists. The world critics claims this album to be "sexyer than Buena Vista", and it was "Winners in the Africa and Critics Award" at BBC in 2003. In other words, a huge, and well earned sucsess.

"'This first CD is to remind people that we can still play,' says Gomis. 'The next will have new styles and more guests.'" (From a BBC interview)

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