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.
Without A Smile
Youssou N'Dour Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
WRITTEN BY: Youssou N. Dour
LAST UPDATE ON: January 6, 2015
Koufi guiss Samay nak Koufi guiss Samay guillem GRap yi rouss sa rousse Souffsi gneuweu Gneuw Takh gnou dé GRAP yi rousssa rouss takh gnou dé Ladial wa tounda wé Mani Ladial wa tounda né
Without a Smile is a song by Youssou N'Dour, a Senegalese singer, songwriter, composer, and percussionist. The lyrics of the song are in the Wolof language, which is the native language of the Wolof people, who are the main ethnic group in Senegal. The song talks about the importance of smiling and being happy, as well as the consequences of not doing so.
The opening line, "Koufi guiss Samay nak Koufi guiss Samay guillem," can be translated to mean "No one is rich without a smile, no one is poor with a smile." This line sets the tone for the song and emphasizes the importance of being happy regardless of one's financial situation. The following lines, "GRap yi rouss sa rousse Souffsi gneuweu Gneuw Takh gnou dé GRAP yi rousssa rouss takh gnou dé," talk about the consequences of not smiling, such as getting wrinkles and looking older.
The next lines, "Ladial wa tounda wé Mani Ladial wa tounda né," can be translated to mean "Life is short, you only live once." This line is a reminder to enjoy life and be happy, as we only have one chance to do so. Overall, the song Without a Smile is a powerful reminder to appreciate the simple things in life and to always try to find the beauty in every situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Koufi guiss Samay nak
Don't let time slip away
Koufi guiss Samay guillem
Don't let time fool you
GRap yi rouss sa rousse
Redemption lies in the heart
Souffsi gneuweu Gneuw
Life is full of surprises
Takh gnou dé GRAP yi rousssa rouss takh gnou dé
Take hold of your heart and you'll find redemption
Ladial wa tounda wé
The world is a journey
Mani Ladial wa tounda né
And we are travelers on that journey
Writer(s): Youssou N. Dour
Contributed by James K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@cheikhtidianecisse5064
(I'm so sad and in the darkest moment of my life, but i will translate it for you)
Whoever sees my cattle ×2
Whoever sees my goats ×2
Leafs have fallen down×2
The ground is deteriorated the reason they( Cattle, goats) left ×2
I was leading the herd, walking for a while
My father's cow, my mother's sheep, the little camel , it dances so well, i'm so hopeful.
The ground is deteriorated
Leafs have fallen down
the reason they left
I was leading the herd, walking for a while
My father's cow, my mother's sheep, the white horse, it dances so well, i'm so hopeful.
Whoever sees my cattle ×2
Whoever sees my goats ×2
The ground is deteriorated
Leafs have fallen down
the reason they left
Ask to the other village ×2
Or i should look for them in that raining village , where the grass is so green,
I will know ×8
Ask to the other village
The ground is deteriorated
Leafs have fallen down
the reason they left
@senegalaisetfiers2119
Cette chanson coule mes larmes quand je l'écoute je pense souvant a des personnes qui me manque beaucoup ma grand mère ma tante des amis qui nous ont tous quitté
@amadouradjitourelawaly9684
Plus les annees passent beaucoup de gens que nous counaissions ne sont plus la paix a leur ames
@senegalaisetfiers2119
@@amadouradjitourelawaly9684 wallahi bro c'est triste mes c'est la réalité de la vie
@NdiemeSankhare
C'est vrai
@cisco9615
Cette chanson me fait pleurer jusqu'à tomber des larmes ça me rappelle des tristes souvenirs
@roku6ix
i've been searching for this song for the past few years. my father played it on one of our trips to Cape Town many years ago when i was younger and it has been stuck in my mind ever since. today i played this album for him because there's a song he played for me once that i liked (leaving) little did i know that i would reunite with this gem. what a gift ❤️
@mustaphasey8065
It's a very deep song my friend
. I wish you understood the wollof language, it's so emotional.
stay blessed!
@zainabtouray7681
South Africa 🇿🇦
@AMYDAILY
Depuis qu’il l’a joué dans Fiitey je l’écoute en boucle ❤️❤️❤️🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
@fatoumbaye9610
Bari nguasi morom