In , Rolling Stone described him as, "perhaps the most famous singer alive" in Senegal and much of Africa [ 3 ] and in , the same publication ranked him at number 69 on its list of the Greatest Singers of All Time. N'Dour helped develop a style of popular Senegalese music known by all Senegambians including the Wolof as mbalax , a genre that has sacred origins in the Serer [ 5 ] [ 6 ] music njuup tradition and ndut initiation ceremonies.
Despite N'Dour's maternal connection to the traditional griot caste, he was not raised in that tradition, which he learned instead from his sibling. Although patrilineally from the noble N'Dour family, his parents' world-view encouraged a modern outlook, leaving him open to two cultures and thereby inspiring N'Dour's identity as a modern griot. N'Dour is one of the most celebrated African musicians in history. His mix of traditional Senegalese mbalax with eclectic influences ranging from Cuban rumba to hip hop , jazz , and soul has won him an international fan base of millions.
The New York Times described his voice as an "arresting tenor, a supple weapon deployed with prophetic authority". In , N'Dour released his biggest international hit single, the trilingual " 7 Seconds ", a duet sung with Neneh Cherry. Folk Roots magazine described him as the African Artist of the Century. He toured internationally for thirty years.
In , N'Dour was honoured with a Prince Claus Award , under that year's theme "Languages and transcultural forms of expression". In , N'Dour was awarded an honorary doctoral degree in music from Yale University. In Senegal, N'Dour became a powerful cultural icon, actively involved in social issues. In , he organized a concert for the release of Nelson Mandela.
In , N'Dour cancelled an upcoming American tour in order to publicly deny support for the upcoming American invasion of Iraq. In a public statement explaining his decision, N'Dour said:. It is my strong conviction that the responsibility for disarming Iraq should rest with the United Nations. As a matter of conscience I question the United States government's apparent intention to commence war in Iraq.
