Music show ahead in war on hunger

Unicef Goodwill Ambassador Youssou N’Dour at the opening of a two-day summit on the Horn of Africa at Gigiri UN Complex in Nairobi on Sept 8, 2011. Photo/AFP

He has been described by Western media as the most famous African musician alive.

Youssou N’Dour is music royalty and has been influencing generations for much of three decades, and he still looks like he can easily do another three.

His style of music, mbalax, is a blend of Senegal’s traditional griot percussion and praise-singing, heavily influenced by the Afro-Carribean styles and a mix of jazz, soul, Latin, and rock.

The New York Times described his voice as an “arresting tenor, a supple weapon deployed with prophetic authority”.

Despite all the successes and influence, Youssou is still a humble man.

He does not fill a room with his presence largely because he listens more than he talks, an unusual trait for a world renown artiste.

Talking to him however, you have to use a translator — he speaks in French — although he will be the first to help him out when he is stuck or looking for the right word to say.

Grammy award

The Grammy award winner, who was in the country early this week touring the Daadab refugee camps in North Eastern Province, is very passionate when it comes to matters youth and African.

He recently lashed out at the West for caring more about Libya and not the starving populations in Somalia and other African countries.

He advises that the solution to Africa’s problems lies in its youth, whom he says must be engaged by their respective governments if the continent is to grow.

The Senegalese singer is also angered by African leaders who choose to travel to Paris, France, to discuss the continent instead of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

While lashing out at the West for not doing enough to help the needy, the legendary musician says Africa must learn to handle its own problems and not always expect help from the developed countries.

“It is all about strategy and our leaders must meet and formulate ways on how to prevent this from happening again. It is unfortunate that some leaders travel to Paris to discuss issues on Libya and Africa in Paris and not in Addis Ababa; we should learn to handle our issues as Africa or else we will always come second,” he said.

He told the Press that he sent out a letter of appeal all over the world looking for people to help alleviate the suffering and one of the people who got back to him with an assurance that he would do everything to help is the legendary U2 artiste and philanthropic singer Bono.

“He said he was touched by the letter and told me I can count on him to help the needy and we will host a mega concert in Nairobi next year where we will make a call for help but this time, it will be from Africa not Paris,” he added.

He praised Unicef and other charities helping the starving people in the Horn of Africa for their good work. He also praised Kenya for hosting the refugees.

Meagre resources

“Kenya has, with its meagre resources received the refugees and has not forgotten these populations, but more needs to be done,” he said. “Having looked into the faces and listened to the voices of those caught up in this tragedy, I find it unacceptable that I am confronted by such stories of suffering and despair in this day and age.” The music maestro says there must be “indivertible and undivided focus on what is happening to children”.

Youssou N’Dour said he was planning on uniting the Africa youth by starting an Olympic-esque torch carrying run across the continent.

“We are organising a race where youths from across the continent will run with a torch that will be handed over at every country and in the process, the youths sit and engage on ways to help move the continent ahead. This race will start in Nairobi and end at the same place and then we will hold the concert which Bono has promised to grace,” said Youssou N’Dour.

They have started a new initiative called “New Africa” which will be behind the activities.

He has been to Kenya several times and his shows are a must-attend.