African Pop Titan Turns Concert Hall Into Dance Hall

Ending a 14-year wait, the king of African pop and Grammy-Award winner, Youssou Ndour returns to Sydney for his Opera House debut – bringing his block party backed by his legendary 12-piece band Le Super Étoile de Dakar, acrobatic dancers and over three decades of funk-fused hits.

This ensemble was formed in 1979 by Youssou Ndour and his early work with the group, in the Latin style, is popular all over Africa. In the 1980s, he developed a unique sound with his ultimate group, Le Super Étoile de Dakar featuring Jimi Mbaye on guitar, bassist Habib Faye and tama (talking drum) player Assane Thiam.

Emerging as ‘the Michael Jackson of Senegal’ at just 12 years of age, Ndour’s innovative pairing of fiery political polemics with the revving rhythms of Mbalax beats has seen him tour the world with Springsteen and Sting, while running for president and campaigning for Nelson Mandela alike. Leading joyous celebrations of African identity, heritage and hope on the world stage, Ndour’s siren-like singing is an ecstatic voice for change that first broke through with the millions-selling duet ‘7 Seconds’ alongside Opera House alumni, Neneh Cherry.

Backed by his long-term supergroup, Le Super Étoile de Dakar, one of the most influential bands to come out of Senegal, join Africa’s biggest star jive through three decades of rhythm, reggae, rumba, jazz, rock and everything in-between.