REVIEW: Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love (2008)

If Senegalese singer and Sufi Muslim, Youssou N’Dour, thought that the holy month of Ramadan might prove an impediment to the release of Egypt, his new album in praise of Islam, he never expected the hurdles he would face after 9/11. Delaying the album for 3 years out of respect, N’Dour finally released it in 2004 to controversy in Senegal but critical acclaim abroad. Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi this intriguing documentary delves into N’Dour’s family’s roots up through his stirring performances to sold-out crowds at the Amnesty International Human Rights Now! Tour, Live 8 concerts, and Carnegie Hall. Hailed as one of Africa’s most important musical and political icons, N’Dour candidly expresses his struggles as a singer and human right’s advocate and how he believes that singing and religion are far from mutually exclusive. Though prolonged by indulging in too many concerts and close-ups of impressionable youth, Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love (2008) is still a rich tapestry of inspiring music, political and social activism, and, moreover, a much-needed affirmative presence in support of Islam. (Liesl Swanbeck)

Opens at The Roxie Friday, July 28th.