Youssou N’Dour kicked off Muslim Voices: Arts & Ideas, performing songs that draw on his Islamic beliefs, African heritage, and global experience.

The evening started off with Quranic recitation, led by Imam Shamsi Ali (Indonesia-US), Issah Lamin Yusif (Ghana-US) and Mohammed Amanul Haque (Bangladesh-US), followed by the Ushaaq Ensemble performing the world premier of Salaam Suite by Iraqi-American composer/musician Amir El Saffar. The ensemble included Marina Alam, Dena El Saffar, and Dhafer Tawil, among others.

An undisputed giant of world music, Senegalese artist and humanitarian Youssou N’Dour has raised Senegal’s exuberant mbalax style to global stature. Introduced to American audiences on seminal albums such as Paul Simon’s Graceland and Peter Gabriel’s So, N’Dour continues to influence virtually every realm of the international music scene. His music serves to redefine current direction in world music, riding high on tumbling African rhythms and stratospheric vocals.

Youssou N'Dour and Muslim Voices film series are part of Diverse Voices at BAM presented by