\t\tby<\/span> rilm<\/a><\/span> | <\/span>September 25, 2024 \u00b7 6:00 am\t<\/div>\n <\/p>\n The Senegalese singer, songwriter, musician, and politician Youssou N\u2019Dour was born just six months before Senegal achieved independence. His mother hailed from a long line of griots, or gawlo<\/em>, who served as hereditary musicians and custodians of oral history in traditional Senegalese culture. In contrast, his father, who did not come from a griot<\/a> background, discouraged him from pursuing a career in music. Nevertheless, at the age of 12, Youssou began performing at local events, including kassaks<\/em> (circumcision ceremonies) and ngentes<\/em> (baptisms). By 13, he had his first major public performance with the song M\u2019Ba<\/em>, marking the start of his professional singing career.<\/p>\n For a brief period, N\u2019Dour attended the \u00c9cole des Arts but quickly lost interest in classical Western music education. In 1975, he joined Ibrahim Kass\u00e9\u2019s Star Band, the house band at the popular nightclub Le Miami. After two years, he left the band along with several other members to form a new group, \u00c9toile de Dakar, in 1977. In 1984, Youssou N\u2019Dour was invited to perform in Paris alongside the Ghanaian-English band Osibisa<\/a> on April 4th, celebrating Senegalese Independence Day before an audience of 12,000 at the Espace Bala. Among the attendees was British rock musician Peter Gabriel<\/a>, who was so captivated by N\u2019Dour\u2019s voice that he later traveled to Dakar to meet him.<\/p>\n \n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/bibliolore.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/YND_1.jpg?resize=500%2C863&ssl=1\")
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