Maimouna Ndour Quotes

Malaria kills and its main victims are children and women. We can stop this scourge so people can live with dignity and go to work and school. ~ Youssou N'Dour

I look at my people, and I look at those who control them - the political elite. And the sad thing is that the elites are just not interested in the welfare of the people. ~ Youssou N'Dour

In politics, sometimes you have to lie, or you make a promise that you cannot keep. ~ Youssou N'Dour

I really want to bring the message of love that is Islam to people; bring something new to that familiar face. ~ Youssou N'Dour

I think people should know more of Africa in terms of its joie de vivre, its feeling for life. In spite of the images that one knows about Africa - the economic poverty, the corruption - there's a joy to living and a happiness in community, living together, in community life, which may be missing here in America. ~ Youssou N'Dour

I don't want to see that two-tier Senegal, that two-tier Africa, when you have those at the top and those at the bottom, people who are hungry, people who do not have enough to eat. ~ Youssou N'Dour

I have to protect my family and have a life with them that is completely private. ~ Youssou N'Dour

I don't really see myself as an actor. ~ Youssou N'Dour

World music is about taking things from different places and bringing them together - which is great. ~ Youssou N'Dour

I think that Sufism fits all over the world. The concept is not anything that fits standard Western ideas - it's always related to culture, to music, to religion. It is a dominant religion in Senegal. ~ Youssou N'Dour

When I'm in Senegal, I can't just sit in isolation making music. People need my help. And the Senegalese people helped create my music. It comes from the country itself. ~ Youssou N'Dour

Africa is the future. ~ Youssou N'Dour

I respect music, I do. I love it. ~ Youssou N'Dour

My father used to tell me about how musicians don't have respect from people and he was afraid about my future. ~ Youssou N'Dour

When the slaves left Africa, they left us this music. They left us blues. ~ Youssou N'Dour

I can assure you that I have never used my media companies for propaganda, and I will never do so. ~ Youssou N'Dour

Islam is a peaceful religion. ~ Youssou N'Dour

If you come from Africa with your economic poverty and your cultural riches, and you meet someone like Peter Gabriel or a person from a big record company, and they tell you that what you are doing is marvelous, that makes you feel powerful. ~ Youssou N'Dour

Music in Africa often contains messages. Music in Senegal, and Africa, is never music for music's sake or solely for entertainment. It's always a vehicle for social connections, discussions and ideas. ~ Youssou N'Dour

In the West, you have always associated the Islamic faith 100 percent with Arab culture. This in itself is a fundamentalist attitude and it is mistaken. ~ Youssou N'Dour

Senegal needs to free itself, to rediscover its democracy. ~ Youssou N'Dour

I grew up with reggae music. ~ Youssou N'Dour

Politics is politics; art is art. If you play a political role, you have to stop being an artist. ~ Youssou N'Dour