The Grammy-winning Senegalese singer
Youssou N’Dour takes us on a musical journey
in the footsteps of slaves.
Guided in his mission by his friend, the blind
pianist Moncef Genoud, Youssou N’Dour travels
across the USA from Atlanta to New Orleans,
and then from New York on to Bordeaux and
Luxembourg, performing his songs, which are
transformed, immersed in the culture of jazz
and gospel. Transcending cultural divisions
and rehearsing with some of the world’s
most exceptional musicians, Youssou N’Dour
prepares to return to Africa, bringing
a jazz repertoire of his own songs to perform
a concert in Goree.
Goree is an island off the coastline of Senegal
and sits at the crossroads of the centuries-old
trade route connecting Europe and West Africa,
Christianity and Islam, infamous as a former
centre of the Atlantic slave trade, from where
many Africans were deported to the Americas.
An uplifting and heartwarming documentary,
Return to Goree is also a spiritual journey back
to Africa for the African-American performing
artists accompanying Youssou.
Keith Shiri,
London Film Festival Programme
