Melodies from His Motherland

Even when Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour is off globetrotting, he doesn’t forget his peeps. Take for example a 2002 performance at a Madrid amphitheater, where he noticed that a group of poor Senegalese immigrants was trying to catch a glimpse of the show atop a dumpster outside. He sent them a Wolof chant and waited for their excited reply, then cheered with them in Spanish

Many people in his own country might never get a chance to see him live, but the positive messages on his latest album will certainly hit home through the transistor radio waves. On Give and Take, he digs deep into his linguistic and musical roots to praise Senegal’s rich cultural history. “How good it feels to be with family/Praise to those who braved the kitchen heat to feed us/The grateful rabbit should thank the bird for the fruits at the bottom of the tree,” he belts out in Wolof on the number “4-4-44.” Although most Miamians won’t know exactly what he’s Afro-popping off at the mouth about during tonight’s performance (we found the translation on the Internet), it won’t take but seven seconds to become inspired by his heartfelt music. Catch him at the Gusman Center, 174 E. Flagler St., Miami. The show begins at 8:00. Tickets cost $27 to $77. Call the Rhythm Foundation at 305-672-5202.
Fri., Nov. 16, 8 p.m., 2007