1959 Born in Dakar, Senegal 1971 After years of street performing, gets invited on stage. 1978 Already a seasoned singer, joins the country's popular Star Band. 1979 Founded Etoile de Dakar, an ensemble that, by 1981, evolves into The Super Etoile and the most famous band in Africa. 1984 Performs with The Super Etoile for the first time in Europe. 1985 Debuts in North America with The Super Etoile. Organises a concert for the release of Nelson Mandela. 1986 Sings backup vocals for rock legend Peter Gabriel, who met N'Dour backstage after one of the Senegalese star's concerts in Africa. 1988 Invited as co-headliner on the Amnesty International Human Rights Now! tour alongside Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, and Tracy Chapman. 1990 Releases first international album Set, on Virgin. Rolling Stone writes in response: 'If any Third World performer has a real shot at the sort of universal popularity last enjoyed by Bob Marley, it's Youssou, a singer with a voice so extraordinary that the history of Africa seems locked inside it'. 1991 Appointed as a Unicef goodwill ambassador on April 3; signs with Spike Lee's Columbia-distributed 40 Acres & A Mule label, followed by a Grammy nomination with his first effort for the label, Eye's Open. 1995 Trilingual hit 7 Seconds, a duet with Neneh Cherry, named Europe's Song of the Year by World Music Awards in Monaco. The song remains N'Dour's most commercially successful composition abroad to date. 1998 Writes the official anthem of the soccer World Cup finals, France '98, which he performed with Belgian singer Axelle Red. 2000 Named 'African Artist of the Century' by English publication Folk Roots; ends a five-year hiatus from recording and releases Joko: From Village to Town, which includes collaborations with Sting and Gabriel as well as songs co-produced by Wyclef Jean, introducing American hip-hop elements to the singer's signature mbalax. 2004 Releases album Egypt, with songs that explore his Islamic faith. 2005 Egypt wins N'Dour his first Grammy for Best Contemporary World Music Album; performs at three of the Live 8 concerts (London, Paris, and the Eden Project in Cornwall on July 2 with Dido). The concert aims to draw the G8's attention to the plight of poor African countries. 2006 Named Best African Entertainer at The International Reggae and World Music Awards.
