Watch Youssou N'Dour: Return to Goree

Youssou N'Dour: Return to Goree is a 2007 documentary film directed by Pierre-Yves Borgeaud. The film follows renowned Senegalese musician Youssou N'Dour as he embarks on a musical journey to explore the roots of jazz and blues in Africa. The movie showcases the influential role of African music on the evolution of American music and how it has served as a source of inspiration for many musicians across the globe.

The movie begins with Youssou N'Dour's visit to Goree Island, a place of historical significance for the African continent. Goree Island was a major slave trading center during the transatlantic slave trade and served as a transit point for slaves to be shipped to America. Youssou N'Dour is shown visiting the Slave House, a museum built to preserve the memory of the atrocities that took place on the island during the slave trade. He is visibly moved by what he sees and decides to undertake a journey to rediscover the roots of African music.

Youssou N'Dour plans a musical journey from Dakar, Senegal, to New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States. He sets out to explore how the music of Africa, especially that of his native Senegal, has influenced the development of jazz and blues music in America. The journey takes him through several West African countries, including Cape Verde and Mali, and he collaborates with some of the leading musicians from the region along the way.

While in Senegal, Youssou N'Dour performs with his band and other local musicians, showcasing the complexity and diversity of African rhythms. He then collaborates with Malian musician Ali Farka Toure, creating a fusion of Malian and Senegalese sounds. The movie showcases the beauty of West African music and how the different rhythms and sounds of the region blend together.

The movie then takes the viewer on a journey across the Atlantic, as Youssou N'Dour and his team travel to the United States to explore the roots of jazz and blues music. In New Orleans, he collaborates with several local musicians, including pianist Moncef Genoud and trumpeter Nicholas Payton. He explores the unique sound of jazz and blues music and how it has been shaped by African rhythms and melodies.

One of the highlights of the movie is the street performance in New Orleans by Youssou N'Dour and the local musicians. They bring the streets to life with their music, showcasing the joy and energy of African rhythms in a new setting. The performances are memorable, and the audience is moved by the energy and passion that Youssou N'Dour brings to the music.

The movie concludes with Youssou N'Dour's return to Goree Island, where he performs a moving tribute to the slaves who were taken from Africa centuries ago. The performance is a fitting tribute to the memory of the millions of slaves who were forced to leave their homes and families behind and embark on a journey to a new world.

Overall, Youssou N'Dour: Return to Goree is a must-watch for lovers of music and history. The movie explores the rich musical heritage of Africa and its influence on the development of jazz and blues music in America. It is a powerful journey that highlights the beauty and complexity of African rhythms and melodies and showcases the universality of music as a medium of communication across cultures and borders. The movie is inspiring, educational, and entertaining all at once, and highlights the importance of preserving the memory of the past while looking to the future.

Youssou N'Dour: Return to Goree is a 2007 music movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 49 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9.