Youssou stages tantalising show

Nov 18, 2004

Youssou N’dour’s breath taking performance in Uganda last week left a record that will be difficult to rewrite. The Senegalese artiste performance to an enthusiastic crowd at Didi’s World in Kasanga.

By Alex Balimwikungu

Youssou N’dour’s breath taking performance in Uganda last week left a record that will be difficult to rewrite. The Senegalese artiste performance to an enthusiastic crowd at Didi’s World in Kasanga.

Despite the short notice from the sponsor Celtel, fans thronged Didi’s world for the tantalising performance.

His performance was a pleasant surprise to many people who only knew of his collaborations with artistes like Neneh Cherry (seven seconds) Peter Gabriel and Branford Marsalis.

With complex rhythms and soaring vocals, Youssou hit the stage at 9:00pm and fans were treated to a medley of songs in French, Fulani as well as his own native Wolof languages.

Youssou’s thrilling show prompted many fans to suggest that he was the only third world performer with a universal popularity last enjoyed by Bob Marley.

Mbalax, which employs indigenous Senegalese dance rhythms, roomy and melodic guitars and saxophone solos, chattering talking-drum soliloquies and on occasion, Muslim religious chants, dictated the explosive mood at the show.

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