Film Review: Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love

Title:               Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love
Director:              Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Producer:            Edward Tyler Natien, Jennifer Millstone, Patrick Morris,
                                Jack Turner, Kathryn Tucker, Miklos C. Vasarheliyi(Exec)
                                Eizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
                                Sarah Price, Scott Duncan, Hugo Berkeley (Co)
Screenwriter:    Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Cinema:               Scott Duncan, Nick Doob, Jojo Pennebaker, Hugo Berkeley
Editor:                  Jonathan Oppenheim, Fernando Vellena
Music:                  Martin Davich, James Newton Howard
Year:                     2008 (116 minutes)

Synopsis: Arguably the most successful African pop artist in history, Youssou Ndour’s distinctive voice became known internationally through a string of popular tracks, including collaborations with Peter Gabriel and Neneh Cherry. Not resting on fame, Ndour used his popularity to shed light on issues important to him. In 2007, he was listed as one of Time Magazine’s one hundred most influential people in the world. Years in the making, I Bring What I Love follows Ndour as he releases Egypt – a call to his fellow Muslims for peace in a post-9/11 world. While receiving praise in the West, Ndour becomes the center of controversy when religious conservatives in his home nation of Senegal deem the album blasphemous. Director Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and her crew film in Africa, Europe, the U.S., and the Middle East, to tell the story of how Ndour rises to these challenges and eventually wins over audiences at home and abroad.

Review: I Bring What I Love is an inspirational, and at times disturbing, film about Youssou Ndour , perhaps the most famous pop musician in Africa. It’s inspirational in the sense that Ndour came from humble beginnings to become the most popular entertainer on the continent of Africa. It’s also inspirational in the sense that, even with his fame and fortune, Ndour’s culture, upbringing, and religious beliefs keep him grounded. And it’s his religious beliefs that lead to the more disturbing moments in the film.

As a devout Muslim, Ndour uses his fame and influence to advocate for peace among all religions and nations. His message, which includes his album of religious songs, Egypt, is hailed as a triumph by people from around the world, but is condemned by some of Ndour’s fellow Muslims. I Bring What I Love becomes inspirational once again as Ndour refuses to back down and continues to promote Egypt - and his message of peace – despite the controversy.

This is a well made film about an artist that most people in the West have never heard of, but is the voice of a generation in much of the rest of the world. Not only should the West get to know Ndour, but all people should hear his message of hope and peace.

(3.25 out of 5.0)