The academy recognised Ndour as "not just a singer, but a storyteller, poet, singer of praise, entertainer and verbal historian".

BBC: Youssou Ndour and Kaija Saariaho win Polar Music Prize

Senegalese singer Youssou Ndour and Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho have been named as the recipients of this year's Polar Music Prize.

BBC: Youssou Ndour and Kaija Saariaho win Polar Music Prize

"With his exceptionally exuberant band Super Etoile de Dakar and his musically ground breaking and political solo albums, Youssou Ndour has worked to reduce animosities between his own religion, Islam, and other religions, " it said.

BBC: Youssou Ndour and Kaija Saariaho win Polar Music Prize

With all due respect, I really do not see how Didier Drogba, fantastic football player that he is, can be classified as influential or for that matter Youssou Ndour, much as I love his music.

BBC: African viewpoint: Fame and influence

My name is Youssou Ndour.

BBC: Last Updated: Wednesday, 16 January 2008, 12:19 GMT