Senegal Star Youssou Ndour Enters Presidential Race

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Senegal Star Youssou Ndour Enters Presidential Race

Tuesday, 03 January 2012 03:09

Youssou Ndour

(AFP) – World-renowned Senegalese singer Youssou Ndour announced he will run for president against incumbent Abdoulaye Wade in February 26 elections.

"I am a candidate," the country's most famous export declared on his privately-owned television station after weeks of speculation about his plans.

"I have listened, I have heard, and I am responding favourably," Ndour said, referring to numerous requests that he throw his hat into the political ring.

"It is a supreme patriotic duty," he added of the race in which he hopes to use his massive star power to unseat 85-year-old Wade who is seeking a much

Youssou Ndour, the world-renowned Senegalese singer will run for president (Photo AFP)

criticised third term in office.

Ndour, 52, announced at a concert at the end of November that he had put performing on hold and formed his own political movement, Fekke ma ci bolle ('I am involved' in Wolof).

"It's true, I haven't pursued higher education, but the presidency is a function and not a job. I have proved my competence, commitment, rigour and efficiency time and time again.

"I have studied at the school of the world. Travel teaches as much as books."

Hailed by the New York Times as "one of the world's greatest singers", Ndour has achieved huge international success with his mixture of Senegal's popular Mbalax music style with samba, hip-hop, jazz and soul.

He was born in October 1959 in Dakar's populous Medina suburb to a modest family and is an icon in his home country.

Abroad he has collaborated with Peter Gabriel, Sting, Wyclef Jean, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen and many other famous names.

In his declaration on Monday night, Ndour said his campaign would include initiatives for peace in the troubled southern Casamance region, good governance, agricultural and social development projects.

"My life is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration," he said.

The singer has also been heavily involved in social and political issues.

In 1985 Ndour organised a concert for the release of South Africa's then-apartheid prisoner Nelson Mandela who went on to become the country's first black president. He has been involved in scores more benefit concerts.

He owns private media group Future Medias which includes a radio station RFM, a television station TFM and daily newspaper L'Observateur which are often critical towards Wade's government.

Ndour has emerged as an outspoken critic of Wade, whose bid for a controversial third term in office has opposition and civil society groups fuming, and tensions have led to violent clashes in recent months.

Wade was first elected president in 2000 for a seven-year term, and re-elected in 2007 for five years after a constitutional reform shortened presidential terms.

In 2008 the seven-year term was re-introduced, raising confusion over whether Wade had exhausted his two-term limit. The opposition says yes, he says no, and the constitutional court will rule on the issue in early January.

Some 20 candidates will be taking part in the election.

Comments

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+1 #43 2012-01-13 07:33

Oh My God !
So sorry for that Sad New Brother Radiokangkang !
May His Humble Soul Rest in Peace together with all those muslims who pass away these Days......... Ameen !

In the Service of Sympathy I Remain

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+2 #42 2012-01-12 22:16

Mike, I am back, Brother Lalo, I got a sad news, a cousin of mine Ousainou Ndimbalan, passed away in Germany last thursday.

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-1 #41 2012-01-12 22:10

Malamin Darboe, You did speak your mind, it is freedom of speech, i totally disagreed with most of what you said and also appreciates your comments, atlease you did it with respect, it shown a real gentleman. YAHYA jAMMEH IS MY (MANDELA).

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+3 #40 2012-01-11 21:11

Quoting Radiokangkang:
First of all, i would like to thank you for your consideration and concerns.
To answer your questions: Yes i will allow the (Judaism).Lalo Kebba, the verse you mention here" EHTILAAF" Is difference in the way he created us, not difference in Religion.

Comment:
Brother, the EKHTILAAF Mentioned in the said Verse I quoted doesn't mean the creation but our deference in Religion, that is to say others will be Christians, others Jews and other Muslim and some will never believe either of these, that is why He said:
"Wali Zaalika, Khalaqahum" Because of these differencies we are being created to fairly choose where we want to be, it was mentioned in other Place: Innaa Hadey Naahus Sabiila, Emmaa Shaa kiran, Wa Immaa Kafoura'
That is He God/Allah have placed two ways either you be in thank giving or you be a polytheist !

In the service of the truth I remain

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0 #39 2012-01-11 10:11

Oops...

Kang Kang and Lion King have disappeared.

Should we send out a search party?

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+4 #38 2012-01-07 19:20

Mandela knew that he had failures and he admitted them both secret and in public unlike our professor who don't even allow criticisms much more to disclose his failures. So I don't think he is no where near ranking with our anti-Apatheid Hero (Nelson Mandela)..thanks I like debating you her, keep it up.. God bless.

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+4 #37 2012-01-07 19:18

Simcard was expensive than it was before because of all these telecommunicati on companies in competition in the Gambia that's why we need to create more kind of that room for other investors but its unfurtunate that the president is in competiton with the investors and no one can compete him or else u pay a huge price one day so sad brother. Unlike Yahya Jammeh (or you should I say your so-called Nelson Mandela)?:) Mandela whose reputation will survive revisionist deconstructions . He (Mandela) himself has made no secret of his personal and public failures, and its ideed the confessional ualities of his autobiographica l testimony both publishe that makes him such an attractive ly accessible public hero. Very few public personalities have had so much of their intimate correspondence published during active careers, and mandela's private voice is compelling because of its volnerability and its self insight.. continued above

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+5 #36 2012-01-07 19:02

that created a climate of fear in Gambia and earned Gambia insuficient able-bodied men who could have been more contributive towards national development including business politics, education and agriculture. They (Gambian Abroad) therefore have left with no choice but to remain and invest in an environment where they will function well and hire we'll. Imagine if those uncountable investment that Gambia is losing today were invested in Gambia how many unemployed youths would be employed and what would the sinking economy be like if Gambia has morecompanies exporting goods abroad and distributing goods with the nation? Competion between business sectors will be encouraged, the quality of goods will be boosted and the priceing of goods and service will be affordable. Continued above..

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+5 #35 2012-01-07 18:55

Kang Kang, I now undertood the joking relationship between the badibunkas and the people of kiang and have vividly remembered seeing them messing around with each other back in the days. Thanks for your message however on the issue of Jammeh earning such reputation and achievement like mandela might not be an easy success for Jammeh to achieve. He could have achieved that when he first overthrow the democratically elected PPP when he promised in 1994 that they were not there to stay but they came to chanhe the unsatisfactory mafia regime that they seen ruling upleasantly but he failed and contradicted himself and instead involved himself in plitics and contested elction and he will never be trusted by some of the folks he plotted the coup with, some are exiled, some died some not on active duty anymore. Yahya is very resistant to criticism, he don't get along with most gambian intellectuals and enterpreuners, ..continued above

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+4 #34 2012-01-07 15:05

Your most highest Excellency President elect....Kang Kang.

Your maths were in error...Sir !

On a turnout of 83% and with a vote for the combined opposition of 28%

You would only need 37% to bring your people to the promised land of Kang Kang.

Have you decided what to call your Party?

I have some suggestions;

RSVP

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