N'Diaye's mother comes from the Matam region in the far north of Senegal, near the border with Mauritania. His father comes from the extreme south, the Cassamance region, where Mande people have fought an on-an-off independence struggle for decades. In between N'Diaye's two ancestral homes, lie the sliver-like nation of Gambia, and the Senegal's Wolof majority with its center in the crowded, frenetic capital, Dakar. Since childhood, N'Diaye has faced the complex task of balancing all of these cultural realities. As a boy, he sold cola nuts in Dakar's Thiaroye market. But he went on to study economics at Cheikh Anta Diop University. Ultimately, it became clear that arts were his true calling, and in addition to his musical career, he went on to act in two important films--"Camp de Thiaroye" and "Guelwarî"--by the celebrated Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembène.

Activism and art have always gone hand in hand for N'Diaye. From the start of his career as a songwriter, N'Diaye made it clear that simple love songs and songs of celebration would not do for him. He sang about official corruption, torture victims in the Cassamance struggle, the troubles of the disenfranchised Tuareg people in northern Mali, and the forgotten shadow people who inhabit Senegal's poorest districts. N'Diaye has faced hostility and censorship for his brave subject matter, but he has never backed down. He currently directs arts activities for a non-government organization called Environment, Development and Action (ENDA). He calls his division, Siggi ENDA Art, "siggi" being Wolof for "lift up your head."

The year 2000 was good to N'Diaye. His sensational performances at Midem in Cannes, Womex in Berlin, and Cinars in Montreal opened doors of opportunity for him. His international debut, Thiaroye, was honored with a Choc du Monde de la Musique award in France. Meanwhile back at home, N'Diaye appeared in another ground-breaking film, "Karmen Geï," Joseph Gaye Ramaka's comic remake of the Bizet opera "Carmen," set in Senegal. Soon, N'Diaye's second international release will be out. It's called Xel, which means "thought" or "reasoning," and the songs deal with subjects N'Diaye has lived with and thought about deeply, such as the war in Casamance in "Casa di Mansa," and street urchins in "Xale Bi." Musically, the songs range from searing solo voice, to poignant acoustic ballads, and the energized bustle of Senegal's signature Afropop style, mbalax. N'Diaye's musical textures are as varied as his themes, incorporating the wooden slatted balafon of the Mande griots, the crack of djembe drums, and the fury of rock guitar. It is a bold work by a true African maverick. Watch this site for release information.