Dakar, Nov 8 – Senegalese singer, songwriter, and performer Youssou Ndour announced on Friday that his latest album, “Eclairer le monde” (“Light Up the World”), has been nominated for the 68th edition of the Grammy Awards — the annual U.S.-based awards that honor the best artists and technicians in the field of music.
The Grammy Awards, created in 1958, are among the most prestigious honors in the American music industry.
“It is with immense joy and deep gratitude that I share some good news: my latest album, Eclairer le monde, has been nominated for the Grammy Awards in the prestigious category Best Global Music Album,” the artist announced on his social media platforms.
The leader of the Super Etoile band, who celebrated his 66th birthday on October 1st, described the recognition as “one of the highest honors in the world of music,” emphasizing that the nomination “celebrates not only a musical work but also an exceptional human and artistic journey.”
“I want to warmly thank my creative companions, Michael League and Weedie Braimah, with whom this album came to life — and not forgetting Nic Hard,” the artist posted.
According to the “King of Mbalax,” the album Eclairer le monde is “an invitation to travel, to intercultural dialogue, and to shared light.”
In the Best Global Music Album category, Youssou Ndour appears alongside Brazilian artists Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia, Indian musicians Anoushka Shankar featuring Alam Khan & Sarathy Korwar, the Indo-British group Shakti, and Nigerian artist Burna Boy.
Other African artists are also shortlisted in different categories — such as Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo (Best Global Music Performance), and Nigerians Davido and Burna Boy, who are both listed in the Best African Music Performance category.
Youssou Ndour, who already won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album in 2005 for his album Egypt, is a familiar figure in the elite circle of global music.
This marks his seventh nomination at the prestigious Grammy Awards, a symbol of the growth of the American music industry, for albums including Rokku mi rokka, Nothing in Vain (Coono du reer), Joko, Wommat, Eyes Open, and now Eclairer le monde.
Released on April 4, 2025, Eclairer le monde is described as a highly musical work in which “each instrument was meticulously refined before being recorded.”
It features instruments such as the kora, flute, sokou, ngoni, various percussion instruments, and balafons, among others.
“Each sound was carefully studied and used in the most modern way possible by the American producer Michael League (co-founder of Snarky Puppy),” the artist noted.
Source: Senegalese Press Agency (Agence de Presse Sénégalaise – APS).
