No more singing in clubs, Youssou N'Dour saysBy TAMBA JEAN-MATTHEW in Dakar | Monday, April 16  2012 at  10:19

Senegal’s international music icon Youssou N’Dour says he will no longer be singing in night clubs and concerts as he did before.

“I will now only sing for the nation when that is necessary. It is time to promote one destination and that is Senegal”, the national broadcasting station quoted him Sunday as saying.

The 53-year-old musician was named this month as Tourism minister in President Macky Sall’s 25-member cabinet.

He owns a popular Dakar nightclub – Thiossane – where he performs Saturday nights with his band, Super Etoile de Dakar, which he launched nearly 30 years ago.

“I’ve fully measured the responsibility of this big department that has been delegated to me and so I can no longer go on stage at Thiossane on Saturday night,” he announced.

“I am no longer a private individual but fully aware that I now work for Senegal and the state.”

Media business

Besides his music business, N’Dour runs several newspapers including the daily L’Observateur, as well as a radio and television station.

Last week, he named his assistant lead vocalist Mbaye Dieye Faye to take over as leader of the Super Etoile de Dakar and a popular journalist Ibra Kane as general manager of the media business, Radio Télévision Futur Media group.

Since his ministerial appointment nearly three weeks ago, N’Dour says he has received several “interesting” project proposals for the promotion of the image of Senegal on the international scene.

“I have met several interesting partners and held promising discussions with them on this and I’m sure we’re going to make a lot of progress,” he said, without elaborating.

The appointment of N’Dour has received near unanimous public acclaim, which is a measure of his popularity across Senegal.