Le Mbalax du Youssou N'Dour

The Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour,  best known in Europe for his hit song with Neneh Cherry, 7 Seconds,  declared to run the presidential election, challenging the octogenarian President Wade. Which is the reaction from music artists? On one hand,  his decision is considered justifiable as a citizen like any other, on other hand, the artistic charme is not considered sufficient without a strong political program. Among the artists, Alpha Blondy compared Youssou N'Dour's  candidature to the Haitian President, Michel Martelly , famous singer before his political career. The reggae Ivorian singer comments :« Youssou Ndour est un artiste inspiré. Mais sera-t-il un politicien inspiré ? »  (Afrik.com). Youssou started his music career in 1979 with the band Etoile de Dakar, creating a mix of genres taken from:  the traditional Senegalese Mbalax , soul, Cuban samba and jazz . He is nowadays the most  appreciated singer from Africa.  Patricia Tang explains " Mbalax is a distinctive genre of percussion-based dance music that arose shortly after Senegal gained independence from France in 1960. Named for the accompaniment rhythm played on the sabar, which is  prominently featured in this style of music, the term “mbalax” has since been used as an umbrella term for this genre of Senegalese popular music as a whole. Made famous by Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour, mbalax came to full fruition in the 1970s through the 1980s, and  continues to dominate modern Senegambian music in the twenty-first century"(Master of Sabar,2007, p.154) I am wondering, in prevision of his likely election victory,how the singer will perform his first speech as national  leader!!! 

Y'en A Marre or We've Had Enough

A youth movement composed by hip-hop singers and journalists is embarrassing Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, who is seeking  re-election to a third term, unconstitutionally proclaimed from the people . Citing Y'en A  Marre mission  "If the goal was to challenge high prices, electricity power cuts, corruption and bad governance, the movement very quickly became a space of expression and citizenship for young people interested in management the public good".  Their aim is to promote awareness within the community and to encourage young people to register to vote through a  community outreach program. Hip-hop music and   social networks are their main means to protest and to create a space of democracy and self-expression. Senegal's controversial election race will start in this week as the Constitutional Council decides which candidates are eligible to run in the February 26 poll. Hoping popular voice overcomes the uncertainty situation!

 "Slowly, slowly one catches a monkey in the forest"

My Blog 's name is taken from a Senegalese Wolof proverb which suggests to be patient in grasping the truth!! This has an interesting meaning for me, always running and anxiously in search of something which has a  sense, a shape or an answer...... The most important lesson I learned in Senegal during my previous journey was in fact to be patient, to breath deeply and reflect, to listen to other people with attention, recognizing that the truth is multifaceted, a prism capable of reflecting the infinitive facets of human thought. A new journey is going to start again, my third visit in twelve years and I would like to share with you my insights and thoughts with its inevitable contradictions.... 

....to soon.....