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girot youssou ndour mbalax senegalese music dakar film documentary egypt islam muslim Youssou Ndour is a candidate for Museke.com's favourite African music legend poll. It's not the only award he's running for these days. A film has been made about him, titled 'I bring what I love'. It is written, directed and co-produced by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi. The movie chronicles events surrounding the release of Youssou's Egypt album, in which he tried to shed 'Islam' in a positive light. It was highly successful abroad but generated a lot of controversy in his home country of Senegal.

This is not the first time he has appeared in a movie or documentary. In 'Amazing Grace', as Olaudah Equiano, he acted as a central figure in the abolitionist movement in Great Britain and he was also on the movie's soundtrack. In 'Retour à Gorée', he played himself, journeying from the island of Gorée to the USA and back, exploring the origins of jazz, which go back to the era of slave trade in Africa, through a concert performed by an international group of artists. (Info from Wikipedia)

Watch the trailer for the movie and catch it if it's showing somewhere near you.

Youssou Ndour has been named one of the world's 100 most influential people and one of its greatest singers. This particular Egypt album won him his first Grammy Award (best contemporary world music album) in 2005.

Read a story about the movie here by Thom Powers for the Toronto International FIlm Festival.
Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love chronicles the life of Senegal's greatest musical export, Youssou Ndour. Documenting his early life and then focusing on the controversy that surrounded his Grammy- winning Egypt album, the film shows Ndour for what he is: a man combining his heritage and tradition in a way that has rarely been done before.

The film begins with Ndour's early life, growing up in Senegal a Sufi Muslim, but learning about the traditions of the Girot, the African singer-storyteller. Ndour combined his Girot heritage with his music, and soon became a household name in Senegal. It was a duet with Peter Gabriel and a performance at the Live 8 concert, a long with the song "7 Seconds," Senegal's first platinum record, which made him known around the world. With his success he soon turned to social activism, a powerful African voice raising awareness and funds to various issues in Africa. But the film's focus is on the early 2000s when Ndour decided to make his Egypt album.

Ndour attempted to show the world what Islam meant to him through this album, chronicling the story of the great Muslim leaders of Senegal. The film explores the various influences of Ndour such as Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum, the pacifist Muslim leader Cheikh Amadou Bamba and Senegal's holy city of Touba, each of which have an important impact on the album, Ndour, and the life of a Senegalese Sufi Muslim. The album was initially met with disdain from with Senegalese, who believed it was blasphemy and refused to buy it. The film focuses on Ndour overcoming controversy and disdain from his Senegalese counterparts and shooting into international fame with the album.

The film's highlights are Ndour's performances. A captivating singer and performer, he is a joy to watch and listen to. It is he that moves the film forward, telling his own story and mixing it with his religious beliefs and African tradition. The Egypt album attempted to show a different side of Islam, Ndour's Islam, hoping to change the world's perspective. What the album accomplishes is what the film accomplishes as well, showing a side of Islam that most Western audiences have not seen before. Though music is not a key part in the Islamic faith, Ndour manages to make it a part of his faith, celebrating Islam and African heritage through song.

You can find more info about the film at its website.