He's got the whole world in his hands;Youssou N'Dour has marri ed perfectly the influences of his homeland with pop music to become Africa's most influential modern musician. Rebecca McQ uillan reports.

(From The Herald (United Kingdom))

It's not every day you speak to an artist of historic significance, so when Youssou N'Dour's PA explains apologetically that

the singer is running 40 minutes late for his appointment because his previous interviews have run over, there is nothing for it but to shrug and wait. He does not come to the UK often so it is no wonder he is in demand by music journalists wishing to meet the man regarded by many as African's most influential musician of recent times.

For all that, the UK drive to promote N'Dour's new album, Nothing's In Vain (Coono du Reer), will be relatively modest in nature. He will return in December for five tour dates, culminating in the Forum in London on December 20, and the furthest north he will play is Bradford. Fans of world music will be well-represented in the audience, yet pigeon-holing N'Dour as a world music star has never been satisfactory, as it …