N'Dour was born in Medina in Dakar, Senegal, in 1959 and started his music career singing in small clubs in Dakar in the Wolof language, which is predominantly spoken in Senegal and Gambia. He's most popular for his mbalax beat which gave him the title "Roi de Mbalax" (King of Mbalax), and is a household name in Senegal, Gambia and neighbouring countries in West Africa with a long list of hits from the early days in the 70s to date.
In 1979, he formed his own ensemble, the Etoile de Dakar. His early work with Etoile de Dakar was in the typical Latin style popular all over Africa during that time, but in the 1980s he developed a unique sound when he started his current group, Super Etoile de Dakar, featuring Jimi Mbaye on guitar, bassist Habib Faye, and tama (talking drum) player Assane Thiam.
N'Dour was introduced to the Western audience when Peter Gabriel had him appear on his 'So' album (in 1986) and theb took N'Dour and The Super Etoile de Dakar on the road with him in a subsequent world tour. N'Dour has also collaborated with a lengthy list of influential artists including Paul Simon, Neneh Cherry, and Branford Marsalis.
He is endowed with remarkable range and poise, a composer, bandleader, and producer with a prodigious musical intelligence. The New York Times most recently described his voice as an "arresting tenor, a supple weapon deployed with prophetic authority". N'Dour absorbs the entire Senegalese musical spectrum in his work, often filtering this through the lens of genre-defying rock or pop music from outside Senegalese culture.
Youssou N´Dour is currently the new minister of Culture of Senegal as a reward for his campaign against the former president of Senegal Abdoulaye Wade who was defeated by Macky Sall in February 2012.
Exodus
Youssou N'Dour Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Without conflict exodus
Saï saï we want africa unite
Without conflict exodus
Africa dama beugue ladjté
Est-ce que amoul louniou fatté
Wowowowowoy souniou rew yii dara doufi dess
Wowowowowoy niakk and lolou laniou bakké
Nioune nioko def
Ana kouko def kouko def
Nioune leu
Ana kouko def waay
Nioune nioko def
Ana kouko def kouko def
Nioune leu
Wowowowowoy eh pourtant fii leu nieupp di roté
Wowowowowoy kou si féssal daal diniou fatté
Wowowowowoy naniou andak fayda
Saï saï we want africa unite
Without conflict exodus
Saï saï we want africa unite
Without conflict exodus
Saï saï we want africa unite
Without conflict exodus
Saï saï we want africa unite
Without conflict exodus
Bob Marley yagg neu beu woté
Diniou dioyal moussouniouko faalé
Wowowowowoy geum naani dineu meusseu changé
Wowowowowoy sounou rew yii bougou niou avancé
Ana kouko def waay
Nioune nioko def
Ana kouko def kouko def
Nioune leu
C′est pourquoi gniniouy diakhassé
Ba noppi diniou dioubolé
C'est pourquoi gniniouy diakhassé
Ba noppi diniou dioubolé
Wowowowowoy let′s keep our dignity
Saï saï we want africa unite
Without conflict exodus
Saï saï we want africa unite
Without conflict exodus
Saï saï we want africa unite
Without conflict exodus
Saï saï we want africa unite
Without conflict exodus
Mbédiou kanam nimako guissé
Boromako meuneu saafara
Li eupp tchi souniou rew yi tu sais
Bougoulou niou dara
Bou dé ganaw laniou guissé
Nonou rekk leuley teuweulé
Nii wala wakhone naniou beugué
Gnii wara dieuf tôk di khoulé
Kagne leu Africa di diok
Andd té gueuneu bania saafikou
Bokk liguey té wagni lolou
Kone sounu diangoro fadiou
Africa damala beugue ladjté
Est-ce que amouniou louniou fatté
Eh souniou beugué souniou diangoro fadiou
Bokk liguey wagni lolou
Bayyi seu kétou Africa
Africa damala beugue ladjté
Est-ce que amouniou louniou fatté
The song "Exodus" by Youssou N'Dour urges African countries to unite and move forward without conflicts, referencing the biblical story of Exodus. The lyrics urge listeners to embrace dignity and reject violence, in order to build a better future for Africa. The repetition of "Saï saï we want africa unite, without conflict exodus" emphasizes the importance of unity in overcoming obstacles. The term "saï saï" is Wolof slang for "let's go".
Line by Line Meaning
Saï saï we want africa unite
We are calling for unity in Africa
Without conflict exodus
We want unity in Africa without any conflicts, wars or violence
Africa dama beugue ladjté
Africa is begging for justice
Est-ce que amoul louniou fatté
Do you hear our cries for help?
Wowowowowoy souniou rew yii dara doufi dess
Our future is bright and we will not let anyone dim our light
Wowowowowoy niakk and lolou laniou bakké
We will keep moving forward even if we face obstacles
Ana kouko def waay
I have a word to say
Nioune nioko def
We must listen to each other
Ana kouko def kouko def
I have something to say, something to say
Nioune leu
Let's listen
Wowowowowoy eh pourtant fii leu nieupp di roté
We are still standing even though we have been knocked down
Wowowowowoy kou si féssal daal diniou fatté
We will stand up for ourselves and fight for our rights
Wowowowowoy naniou andak fayda
We will gain strength from our struggles
Bob Marley yagg neu beu woté
Bob Marley's spirit is still alive
Diniou dioyal moussouniouko faalé
His message is still being heard
Wowowowowoy geum naani dineu meusseu changé
We will keep his legacy alive and strive for change
Wowowowowoy sounou rew yii bougou niou avancé
We will keep moving forward and advancing
C′est pourquoi gniniouy diakhassé
This is why we must unite
Ba noppi diniou dioubolé
Because together we are stronger
Wowowowowoy let′s keep our dignity
Let's maintain our self-respect
Mbédiou kanam nimako guissé
We are all brothers and sisters
Boromako meuneu saafara
We are all the children of God
Li eupp tchi souniou rew yi tu sais
You know that we will succeed
Bougoulou niou dara
We will keep fighting
Bou dé ganaw laniou guissé
We are all one people
Nonou rekk leuley teuweulé
We can only move forward together
Nii wala wakhone naniou beugué
No matter where we are from, we are all united
Gnii wara dieuf tôk di khoulé
We are all human beings with the same aspirations
Kagne leu Africa di diok
Africa deserves respect
Andd té gueuneu bania saafikou
Let's work towards a better future for Africa
Bokk liguey té wagni lolou
Even if it takes time, we will succeed
Kone sounu diangoro fadiou
Let's work together to overcome our challenges
Bayyi seu kétou Africa
Let's rise up, Africa
Writer(s): Abdou Fatha Seck, Mamadou Lamine Seck, El Hadji Mansour, Jacques Sagna, Faye Adamson, Bachelet Quentin
Contributed by Colton W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
rossonero milan
Saï saï we want africa unite
Without conflict exodus
Saï saï we want africa unite
Without conflict exodus
Africa dama beugue ladjté
Est-ce que amoul louniou fatté
Wowowowowoy souniou rew yii dara doufi dess
Wowowowowoy niakk and lolou laniou bakké
Ana kouko def waay
Nioune nioko def
Ana kouko def kouko def
Nioune leu
Ana kouko def waay
Nioune nioko def
Ana kouko def kouko def
Nioune leu
Wowowowowoy eh pourtant fii leu nieupp di roté
Wowowowowoy kou si féssal daal diniou fatté
Wowowowowoy naniou andak fayda
Saï saï we want africa unite
Without conflict exodus
Saï saï we want africa unite
Without conflict exodus
Saï saï we want africa unite
Without conflict exodus
Saï saï we want africa unite
Without conflict exodus
Bob Marley yagg neu beu woté
Diniou dioyal moussouniouko faalé
Wowowowowoy geum naani dineu meusseu changé
Wowowowowoy sounou rew yii bougou niou avancé
Ana kouko def waay
Nioune nioko def
Ana kouko def kouko def
Nioune leu
C'est pourquoi gniniouy diakhassé
Ba noppi diniou dioubolé
C'est pourquoi gniniouy diakhassé
Ba noppi diniou dioubolé
Wowowowowoy let's keep our dignity
Saï saï we want africa unite
Without conflict exodus
Saï saï we want africa unite
Without conflict exodus
Saï saï we want africa unite
Without conflict exodus
Saï saï we want africa unite
Without conflict exodus
Mbédiou kanam nimako guissé
Boromako meuneu saafara
Li eupp tchi souniou rew yi tu sais
Bougoulou niou dara
Bou dé ganaw laniou guissé
Nonou rekk leuley teuweulé
Nii wala wakhone naniou beugué
Gnii wara dieuf tôk di khoulé
Kagne leu Africa di diok
Andd té gueuneu bania saafikou
Bokk liguey té wagni lolou
Kone sounu diangoro fadiou
Africa damala beugue ladjté
Est-ce que amouniou louniou fatté
Eh souniou beugué souniou diangoro fadiou
Bokk liguey wagni lolou
Bayyi seu kétou Africa
Africa damala beugue ladjté
Est-ce que amouniou louniou fatté
Adama Niasse
Je recherche ces chansons depuis longtemps et je viens de les trouver , je suis très content et fier de vous Youssou , félicitation
travelwithmawuli
I am totally in love with this tune since last night when I heard it being played on JOY 99.7FM here in Ghana for the first time.
Youssou Ndour--you simply amazing.
moussa mb
Mawuli Fui He is The Best
moussa mb
les musique de cette album son tellement excellente que
quand on les écoutes on les réécoute encore et encore
TPOP Entertainment
This song is heartwarming.
Faseni Monteiro
c ' est la vérité , il nous manque l ' unité africaine et la solidarité
ミアミア
J'adore ! Bisous de la Belgique
dieyna diallo
super je suis une grande fan de toutes ces chansons
Gabriel Jordan
@Robert Genesis Yup, I've been watching on instaflixxer for since december myself :D
Diop Ibou
Le roi de la musique