A musical star of Senegal, Africa, who ignited worldwide controversy among fellow Muslims with one of his albums recently performed at New York City arts festival.
Youssou N’Dour, the 49 year old Senegalese singer is a controversial entertainer in the Muslim world. Some do not like what he sings or talks about. N’Dour sings religious based songs and wants to use his talents to endear people to Islam and to dispel fears of terrorism and negativities. He was especially criticized for his Emmy award winning album “Egypt” and was boycotted by his fellow Muslims and countrymen as an insult to Islam was really misunderstand. The controversial album was a collaborative effort between N’Dour and the Egyptian Fathy Salama Orchestra and explores Islam as it is practiced in Senegal and Egypt. His lyrics offer a hopeful, tolerant view of Islam, but were received with criticism from Muslims who felt that it was blasphemous to dilute the religion by melding it with pop culture. N’Dour maintain that the way Islam is practiced in his country, Senegal, is beautiful, tolerant and an enjoyable religion
He is a highly successful musician whose records have been sold in the millions and now a documentary of his life and career “Youssou N”Dour: I bring what I love” has just been released.
“I want to show the true face of Islam — a religion in which people can dance, even enjoy,” Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour said over lunch in Harlem, where children mobbed him with adoration in the streets. “People don’t have to associate Islam with fear and sadness. Why is that the only image of Islam in the media?”
He persisted, winning over many of his detractors as an official UNICEF goodwill ambassador who is working to stop malaria in Africa on behalf of the U.S.-based nonprofit Malaria No More, distributing free mosquito nets to families on the continent while entertaining them.
N’Dour said he hopes the documentary will help him “to break a taboo subject — that Islam is what the extremists do.”
