Youssou N’Dour is a Senegalese singer. His latest album “Rokku Mi Rokka: Give and Take” (Nonesuch) is out now.
1 Does art make a difference?
Yes, I really believe it does. Obviously the content is important but I think that art has a value and can make a difference no matter where in the world it comes from.
2 Should politics and art mix?
It’s very difficult to mix the two successfully. Politicians sometimes have good ideas but when politics and art do mix well it’s often an excellent way of spreading an idea or a concept to people more widely.
3 Is your work for the many or for the few?
By its nature my work ends up being for a select audience – people who are interested in global sounds – simply because the audience for that style is select and specialised. However, some songs of mine, like “7 Seconds” and “Wake Up”, have a much wider appeal. So I do try to create something for everyone.
4 If you were world leader, what would be your first law?
It would make sure that the balance of power and justice is right. I think that justice is fundamentally important.
5 Who would be your top advisers?
The American professor of economics Jeffrey Sachs, whose work I really admire, and also Nelson Mandela because he is simply a great figure.
6 What, if anything, would you censor?
I wouldn’t censor anything. I prefer not to and I honestly think things are better that way.
7 If you had to banish one public figure, who would it be?
I’m not someone who does things like that. Everyone has a right to exist. I believe in God and I believe that we will all pay for our actions, good and bad, in the end.
8 What are the rules that you live by?
My family, my father and my mother especially, taught me to respect other people, and this is something I strive to do always.
9 Do you love your country?
Absolutely. I love my country so much. Senegal has a lot to be proud of. It is one of the most democratic countries in Africa. The country has so much potential and a lot to give because of the people there.
10 Are we all doomed?
I’m not sure. I look around and see this world is full of contradictions.
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