Age: 52.
Appearance: The thinking man's Jay-Z.
What's he doing? He's quitting music to pursue a career in politics.
Ah right. So he's a musician then? He surely is! Rolling Stone once described him as the most famous living African singer.
Then how come I've never heard of him? Because you're about as culturally aware as an agoraphobic clam?
Fair point. Where should I know him from? He's most famous in Europe for collaborating with Neneh Cherry on the hit single 7 Seconds.
And why have I never heard of that? See above, re: clam. It spent nearly six months in the UK charts back in 1994, and was number one in France for a record-breaking 16 weeks.
So why is he going into politics? Finally given up on that difficult second single? No, that definitely wasn't a problem: he has released around 20 whole albums since 7 Seconds, won a Grammy, and used the money he made to set himself up in his native Senegal as a record industry executive, nightclub owner and media mogul.
A media mogul? Indeed. As well as having his own television and radio stations, he is the proprietor of Senegal's L'Observateur newspaper.
Isn't he a regular Silvio Berlusconi. Actually, the Berlusconi figure here is Abdoulaye Wade, Senegal's 85-year-old incumbent president.
How so? Wade has been accused of corruption by journalists at L'Observateur, and sparked violent protests earlier this year by attempting, unsuccessfully, to alter the country's constitution, making it easier for him to win a third term as president in 2012.
And Youssou's going to run for president against him? If he is, he hasn't announced it yet. All he has said so far is that from 2 January, all his musical endeavours are on hold, and he plans to "enter the political arena".
Doesn't that mean "run for president"? We'll just have to wait and see.
Do say: "From world music to world leader."
Don't say: "What next? Gaga for America?"
