Youssou N’Dour to perform for new Senegalese president

Youssou N’Dour, the internationally renowned Senegalese singer, would have wished he was the one being sworn in as the country’s new president, but instead, he will be treating Senegalese to a mega concert Monday to celebrate the swearing in of Macky Sall as president.

Youssou N’Dour’s bid to run for president in one of Africa’s brightest democracies was quashed when he and other presidential candidates were disqualified by a court in Senegal ahead of the February 26 elections.

Instead of backing out, he threw his weight behind Macky Sall who beat the country’s 85-year old president, Abdoulaye Wade, in the second round of the polls.

Macky Sall, 51, is set to be sworn in at the King Fahd Complex in Dakar, Senegal with little fanfare Monday and to commemorate the day, N’Dour will stage the concert for hundreds of music lovers at the Obelisk Square.

The Grammy Award winning artiste had declared that he would re-launch his musical career with a victory concert for Macky Sall if the presidential challenger beats incumbent Abdoulaye Wade in the run-off.

The Youssou N’dour/Macky Sall victory concert was initially planned for April 4, to coincide with Senegal’s 52nd Independence Day.

The concert will see some of the country’s finest musical acts joining the 7 Seconds hit maker on stage Monday night.

Youssou N’Dour , born 1 October, 1959, is known the world over as a Senegalese singer, percussionist, songwriter, composer, occasional actor and businessman.

In 2004, Rolling Stone described him as, “perhaps the most famous singer alive” in Senegal and much of Africa.

He has about 28 albums to his credit and has worked with several world renowned musicians.

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