Artist of the time:Yaossou N`Dour

N`Dour performing

By Lyn Omuronji and Internet sources

Born on October 01,1959 Yossou N`Dour is a Senegalese singer, percussionist, songwriter, composer, actor and businessman. He is one of the top African musician.

He is currently the Minister of Tourism and Culture in Senegal.N’Dour began performing at the age of 12.

In 1979, he formed his own band called the Etoile de Dakar. His early work with the group was in the Latin style popular all over Africa during that time. In the 1980s he developed a unique sound with his ultimate group. By 1991 he had opened his own recording studio, Xippi, and, by 1995, his own record label, Jololi.
His mix of traditional Senegalese mbalax with won him an international fan base of millions. In the West, N'Dour collaborated with Peter Gabriel.
On October 16 2000 he was nominated as Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
At the beginning of 2012, he entered the race for the presidency of Senegal for the Presidential election competing against the then incumbent Abdoulaye Wade. However, he was disqualified from running in the election over the legitimacy of the signatures he had collected to endorse his campaign
In April 2012 it was announced that N'dour has been appointed tourism and culture minister in the cabinet of new Prime Minister Abdoul Mbaye